Kerala Bus Operator Fined Over 'Free Travel for Men' Protest
Private bus owners and employees in Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Kottayam districts, under the banner of the Private Bus Operators Association, have announced that they will suspend services on July 8
A private bus operator in Kerala has been fined for cancelling a scheduled trip after introducing free travel for men as a mark of protest when the Priyadarshini scheme was launched. The Motor Vehicles Department imposed a fine of Rs. 7,500 on B.O. Davis, owner of the Little Flower bus operating on the Aluva–Manjaly route.
The Priyadarshini scheme provides free bus travel for women on eligible services, leading to a decline in paying passengers on some private bus routes. The operator had announced free travel for men, arguing that the scheme had adversely affected the viability of private buses.
Meanwhile, private bus owners and employees in Pathanamthitta, Kollam and Kottayam districts, under the banner of the Private Bus Operators Association, have announced that they will suspend services on July 8, alleging that the Priyadarshini free travel scheme for women has pushed the private bus sector into a financial crisis.
The association says it had already submitted memorandums to the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister, but no action has been taken, prompting the strike call.
The bus operators have demanded government intervention to protect private bus owners facing financial hardship.