Kerala will not increase private bus fares or student concessions, Transport Minister C P John said on Friday, rejecting a demand from bus operators while warning that higher fares could push more commuters towards private vehicles. The government is, however, considering fare increases for autorickshaws and taxis, whose rates were last revised in 2022.
John said the government would examine other demands raised by private bus operators but had decided against increasing fares. The decision comes as the state’s private bus sector faces a steep decline in its operating fleet, with the minister saying the number of buses had fallen from around 30,000 to 8,000.
The minister also noted that some bus operators themselves opposed a fare increase because it could reduce ridership. According to him, a higher bus fare could encourage more people to shift to private vehicles, placing further pressure on the public transport sector.
The decision leaves the existing fare structure and student concessions unchanged for now. For passengers who depend on private buses for daily travel, particularly students and commuters without access to personal vehicles, the government’s position avoids an immediate increase in travel costs. The minister did not announce a revised timetable for reconsidering the bus operators’ fare demand.
The contrast between the government’s position on buses and its support for higher autorickshaw and taxi fares reflects the different pressures facing Kerala’s urban transport services. While the government has rejected a fare increase in a sector with a large passenger base, it has indicated that fares for other modes may be revised because their rates have remained unchanged since 2022.
John also called for stricter action against parents of minors caught driving. He said parents should not avoid responsibility by claiming they were unaware that their children were using vehicles. As vehicle owners, parents should be held accountable and face punishment in such cases, he said.
The minister further sought enhanced punishment for drunk driving and stressed the need for stricter enforcement of road-safety regulations. These comments place the fare decision alongside a wider focus on passenger mobility, vehicle use and enforcement on Kerala’s roads.
The government’s immediate next step is to consider the other demands raised by private bus operators while retaining the existing private bus fare and student concession structure. Any future revision of bus, autorickshaw or taxi fares will depend on subsequent government decisions.
