Stephan Kayyar

Daijiworld Media Network – Kasargod (EP)

Kasargod, Feb 15: Private bus owners in Kerala will start indefinite protests on February 16 for their demands. Though the minimum bus fare has been increased from Rs 7 to Rs 8, they are insisting for Rs 10. The leaders of private bus owners association said that the government has rejected their demands.

The association has urged the state government to implement the recommendations in Justice Ramachandran commission report.

The student's concession fare should be increased, age should be fixed for the concession, students concessional fare should be raised to a minimum of Rs 5, permits of private buses should be renewed, increased road tax should be reduced, and GST on petrol and diesel should be reduced were some of their demands.

The state government had raised the minimum ticket fare from Rs 7 to Rs 8 after calls for protests. However, the owners have decided to hold protests as the government has rejected most of their demands.

Meanwhile, Kerala state minister of transport, A K Shashindran informed that he was willing to hold discussions with owners of private buses regarding their demands. The government will consent to the demands that are possible, he said.