Kochi: With the Vytilla Mobility Hub Society (VMHS) refusing to give any exemption to private buses on User fees, bus operators have decided to go ahead with their boycott protest from April 1.
“The demand cannot be accepted at all and we made it clear to the bus operators. Every bus needs to pay '20 as User fee for using the bus terminal of the Vytilla Mobility Hub. This was decided at the initial stage after consulting with all the bus operators and the KSRTC,” said a senior VMHS officer.
Earlier the Kerala Bus Transport Association (KBTA) filed a complaint with the managing director of the Vyttila Hub Society against the toll collection. “We informed them that more facilities like more parking space will be provided to them in the second phase. The Society will hold a meet on March 24 to select the agency to implement the '368 crore project for which the tenders were already floated,” he said.
“As per the guidelines set by the Kochi Corporation, once a bus pays toll at any of the bus stations in the city, it does not have to pay toll at any other centre. At the Mobility Hub, however, those buses which pay toll at the Kaloor bus stand are made to pay toll for entering the Mobility Hub also. This is against the rule,” KBTA secretary Ratheesh P V said.
He said the bus owners paid toll at Tripunithura, Aluva, Kakkanad and Chottanikkara bus stations too. Meanwhile, Kochi Corporation promised to take action, including holding discussion with the VMHS management, to resolve the issue. “We will look into the issue over ‘vandipetta (cart fee),” said Deputy Mayor T J Vinod.
