As per reports, the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation (KSPBOF) has announced an indefinite hunger strike outside the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram from Tuesday (27 October), demanding government intervention to address the financial difficulties facing private bus operators.
• Federation State President K. K. Thomas and Vice-President Sharanya Manoj will participate in the protest, which will be inaugurated by Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) M. Rahmathulla.
• The federation has attributed the sector’s financial difficulties partly to the Priyadarshini free-travel scheme, alongside rising diesel prices and spare-parts costs. Its demands include an increase in base bus fares and student concession fares, implementation of the Padmakumar Commission’s recommendations, uninterrupted services from Regional Transport Offices (RTOs), timely renewal of permits for long-distance buses, and withdrawal of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation’s decision to take over certain long-distance routes.
• The federation has stated that it will continue the hunger strike until a favourable decision is reached. However, it has not announced an immediate suspension of private bus services, noting that a service shutdown would affect the public.
Categories: Civil Disturbances - Non-political Protests
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