Kerala private bus operators have intensified their protest against the Priyadarshini scheme, which provides free travel for women on ordinary KSRTC buses, warning that an indefinite statewide strike will begin on November 3 unless the government addresses their revenue losses.
Private operators in Ernakulam held a torchlight march and dharna at the Vyttila hub KSRTC bus station on Wednesday evening. The demonstration was inaugurated by Kerala Bus Transport Association state president K A Najeeb, who said the scheme had placed private operators under severe financial strain since its launch in June.
According to Najeeb, private bus revenues have fallen sharply after the introduction of free travel on eligible KSRTC services. He said around 400 private buses had stopped operating and claimed that the scheme was creating an additional daily burden of Rs 2.5 crore on the state exchequer. The remarks were reported by the Times of India.
The operators are seeking changes to both the reimbursement structure and the fare system. Their main demand is that the free travel benefit be extended to private buses, with the government directly reimbursing operators for the value of tickets issued under the scheme. Alternatively, they have sought compensation for the losses they say have resulted from the shift in passenger demand.
The association has also demanded that the minimum bus fare be raised to Rs 15, citing higher operating costs and diesel prices. Another demand is the revision of student concession fares to 50% of the regular ticket price. The operators have asked the state government to convene an urgent meeting to discuss the demands.
The dispute exposes the operational tension created when a public transport subsidy is routed through one part of a mixed bus network. The Priyadarshini scheme operates on ordinary KSRTC buses, while private operators continue to serve routes across Kerala. The operators’ demand for direct reimbursement reflects their argument that a passenger benefit should not transfer the financial burden entirely to one segment of the transport system.
The protest also comes against a long-term decline in the number of private buses operating in the state. Najeeb said the fleet had fallen from 35,000 buses a decade ago to around 10,000 today. The association has linked the latest revenue pressure to the wider difficulties of maintaining private bus services amid rising costs and regulated fares.
For commuters, an indefinite strike would raise the possibility of reduced bus availability across Kerala, particularly on routes where private operators provide regular services alongside state-run buses. The immediate impact would depend on the number of operators participating and the government’s response before the proposed November 3 action.
The demonstrations are part of statewide protests planned ahead of the strike. The operators have not announced a settlement, and their next step is to seek an urgent government meeting on reimbursement, minimum fares and student concessions before the proposed indefinite stoppage begins.
