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 government move was aimed at passing on to commuters the gains from petroleum price reduction.

The Cabinet decision to enforce fare reduction from March 1 has put the operators of 15,000 stage carriers on a sticky wicket as they too will have to follow suit. “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 attempt in 2009 to reduce the bus fare by 50 paise by the then Transport Minister, Mathew T. Thomas, did not benefit the ailing KSRTC or the private stage carriers, he said.

“The government has put pressure on us by announcing the move first and then deciding to hold talks with us to reduce the fare,” he said. Mr. Babu sought to know why the government was not enforcing fare reduction on the 6 lakh autorickshaws in the State that levied a minimum fare of Rs.20. He said private stage carriers would not be able to operate with a base fare of Rs.6. The operators would meet in Ernakulam on Friday to discuss the issue. The federation would take a call on the stand to be taken at the meeting to be convened by the government. “We are yet to get an official invitation for the talks,” he added.

News Source : The Hindu

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