The private bus operators in the State are up in arms against the government decision to cut Re.1 in the minimum fare of KSRTC ordinary services. The private bus operators have questioned the intention of the government as fast passenger, super-fast, and express services have been exempted from the fare reduction. Operators say the private bus industry will be much affected as all their buses come under the ordinary category, whereas the KSRTC has just 3,500 ordinary buses.
“The decision has been taken without considering the wage hike, increase in the cost of maintenance and spare parts, and the future of the industry,” the general secretary, Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation, Lawrence Babu told The Hindu .
