Kasaragod Bus Strike: 450 Private Buses Off Roads Over Free Travel Scheme
Private buses in Kasaragod district remained off the roads on Monday as operators staged a one-day strike, protesting the state government's decision to provide free travel for women on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses. The strike, called by the Kasaragod District Private Bus Operators Federation along with workers' organisations, affected around 450 buses and caused widespread inconvenience to commuters.
The suspension of services particularly impacted passengers in hilly regions and routes where KSRTC services are not available. Students travelling to schools and colleges, as well as office-goers, were among the worst affected. Many commuters had to rely on autorickshaws, which added to their expenses. Bus owners and workers, accompanied by their family members, took out a protest march from Anangoor to the Collectorate, where they staged a dharna.
The operators alleged that the free travel scheme for women on KSRTC buses led to a sharp decline in passenger revenue for private buses. They claimed that buses operating on routes served by KSRTC were no longer earning enough to meet diesel expenses, while buses on other routes witnessed a daily drop in collections of ₹1,500 to ₹3,000. They argued that continued operation had become financially unsustainable, particularly for owners who had invested heavily through bank loans and for daily wage workers dependent on the sector.
K. Girish, district president of the Private Bus Operators Federation, said the federation has submitted eight major demands to the government to protect the private bus industry. “We demand limiting free travel for women to two trips a day based on voter identity cards, excluding inter-state and town-to-town buses from the scheme, making the government bear contribution to the workers' welfare fund, and recognising the private bus sector as an industry,” he said. Other demands include complete exemption from road tax, a 50% subsidy on diesel, and extending the free travel scheme to students and senior citizens aged above 65 years.
The federation announced that if the demands are not accepted, it will organise a relay dharna in front of the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram from July 20 to 26. The Joint Action Committee also warned of an indefinite statewide private bus strike if the government fails to take a favourable decision. The protest march and dharna were led by Mr. Girish, T. Lakshmanan, district secretary, CITU district secretary Giri Krishnan, and BMS district secretary Babu.
The free travel scheme, introduced by the state government to promote women's mobility and empowerment, has been a contentious issue. While it has benefited many women, private bus operators argue it has skewed competition and threatens their viability. The government has not yet responded to the demands.
