Kochi: The Kerala State Bus Operators Co-ordination Committee (KBOCC) on Friday threatened to go on an indefinite strike from September 14 if the state government “continues to neglect” their demand to hike the minimum fare to Rs nine. The committee, which consists of seven organisations of bus owners across the state, represents nearly 80 per cent of the private buses currently in operation.
“This time around we will not indulge in any token strike. The government had in the past given assurances many times but never implemented it. Even we have called off out earlier strike notices on the basis of the assurance but nothing happened. We will go on an indefinite strike from September 14 and will not take part in the token strike called on August 18 by certain bus owners’ associations,” said T Gopinathan, Secretary, All Kerala Bus Operators Organisation.
The KBOCC also includes All Kerala Limited Stop Bus Operators Association, Kerala Bus Operators Forum, Cherukita Bus Operators Association, Inter-state Bus Operators Association, Kerala State Private Bus Owners and Operators Association and Private Bus Industry Protection Forum. Earlier, the confederation had given a memorandum to the state government requesting it to consider demands including hike in minimum bus fare to Rs nine, retaining all existing route permits of private buses and withdrawing road tax hike (13 to 78 per cent) among others.
