Thiruvananthapuram, March 27 (BPNS)
The Kerala Private bus operators have called off their four-day stir after the state Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan assured the office bearers of the association of a hike in bus fare.
The bus operators association leaders said that as the State Chief Minister had assured them of a hike in bus fare, they were calling off the stir.
Private bus operators association state coordinator, T. Gopinathan while speaking to media persons after meeting the Chief Minister said”, The state Chief Minister had assured us that there would be a hike in bus fare after the Left democratic front meeting to be held on March 30th and after the Chief Minister’s assurance, we have decided to call off the strike.”
It may be noted that the state was reeling after the private buses were out of the road leading to autorickshaws and taxi services fleecing money from the public.
The bus operators also want a hike from the student concession in buses from the present 2 rupees to 6 rupees which may invite the wrath of the strong student organizations in the state.
The state transport minister Antony Raju had conducted two rounds of meetings with the Private bus operators association but the meetings did not yield any results.
While the state Chief Minister had assured the increase in the rates of bus fares, the government has not given any date from which the bus hike would be implemented.
The private bus operators want the minimum fare to Rs 12 from the present fare of Rs 8 and student concession from Rs 1 to Rs 6. They want a rate of Rs 1 per kilometer after the minimum charge and also had demanded the relaxation of tax.
The Private bus services were off the roads in Kerala since March 24, Thursday.
