Private bus operators to strike in Keralam from November 3
Private Kerala bus operators plan an indefinite strike from November 3 demanding extending free travel to women on private buses, fare reimbursements, tax relief, and higher diesel-insurance support.
They demand that free travel scheme for women be extended to private buses as well, and that the government reimburse bus operators for their ticket fares.
Updated - October 18, 2026 08:01 am IST - KOCHI
Private Bus operators staging a protest in front of the Secretariat raising several demands on October 14. | Photo Credit: NIRMAL HARINDRAN
A sizeable section of private bus operators in Keralam have announced a State-level indefinite strike from November 3 under the banner of the Samyuktha Samara Samiti, a conclave of five bus operator associations.
The strike is aimed mainly at drawing the State government’s attention to the crisis in the sector due to ‘fall in daily revenue’, after the introduction in June of the Priyadarshini free travel scheme for women in KSRTC buses.
The strike was announced on Friday (October 16), after a meeting of the Samiti that was held here to discuss the problems facing the sector and the subsequent fall in the number of private buses in the State from 35,000 a decade ago to about 10,000 now.
They demanded that free travel for women be extended to private buses as well, and that the government reimburse bus operators for their ticket fares.
The other demands include increasing bus fare for students (who avail travel concession benefits), fare revision after considering the frequent hike in diesel rates, and relaxation in the government’s share of tax from the fuel rate that private bus operators pay. The bus operators have also demanded that the government bear the insurance expense of buses.
The office-bearers of Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation had recently said that they will begin an indefinite hunger strike in front of the Secretariat from October 27, demanding steps to protect the bus sector.
Published - October 16, 2026 04:46 pm IST
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