The private bus operators are exploring ways to challenge the National Green Tribunal Circuit order banning light and heavy diesel vehicles, which are more than 10 years old, in six cities in the state.
Kerala State Bus Operators Federation state vice-president Anto Francis said the federation would soon convene its state committee meeting to decide the future course of action in the wake of the Tribunal order. If this order is implemented, around 7,000 private buses have to be removed from the roads, rendering 35,000 odd private bus employees jobless. Besides, the KSRTC will have to withdraw around 2,700 buses from the roads which further deepen the crisis in the Corporation, he said.
The new order is also blow to the private bus operators as they were waiting after giving a memorandum to the state government to extend the present 15 year limit to 20 years. A bus owner has to shell out around `26 lakh to run a new bus through the road and in the normal circumstances it would take at least 15-20 years to repay the loan financed by banks, he said.
News : The New Indian Express
