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Palakkad : Private bus operators under Kerala Bus Transport Association staged a march to Palakkad collectorate on Thursday, demanding that the minimum fare be increased to Rs 12 and the student concession fare to Rs 5. The operators said the private bus sector had suffered losses of more than Rs 120 crore and claimed they were struggling to pay employees’ wages. As part of the agitation, private bus operators said they would observe a token strike on Sept 30.
You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Kochi | Silver Rate in Kochi | Bank Holidays in Kochi | Public Holidays in Kochi Stay updated with the latest Kochi news. The march, which began near Stadium Bus Stand, was stopped by police using barricades at the main entrance of the civil station. They also cited losses caused by the Priyadarshini service. Besides the fare revision, the association demanded a diesel subsidy for private buses, citing rising operating costs. The operators also alleged that govt was attempting to weaken the private bus sector and eventually hand it over to corporate entities. The association office-bearers warned that protests would be intensified across the state if their demands were not addressed. Download the TOI App.