The Hindu Business Line : Kerala: Price hike adds fuel to the fire

THE latest hike in petroleum prices has literally added fuel to the crisis in the transport sector in Kerala, with the striking private bus operators firmly ruling out "conceding even an inch" from the stated position on their long-pending demand for hike in fares.

The strike paralysed normal life in the State for the seventh day on a trot after talks initiated by a specially constituted Cabinet Sub-Committee failed to arrive at an amicable settlement to various issues, including a fare hike, raised by the bus operators.

The State Cabinet also met twice during the week and deliberated on the issue, but only reiterated that the Government was not willing to consider a fare for now.

On its part, the Government said it wanted further time to study the issue in detail and exhaust all options before coming out with a definitive response to the bus operator's demands. But, the latter said enough was enough, and faulted the Government for dragging an issue whose ramifications could decide the future of the transport industry in the State.

The survival of the industry is at stake, according to Mr Khaled Mundappally, representative of the bus operators, who was involved in conciliatory talks with the Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by the Transport Minister, Mr R. Balakrishna Pillai.

The situation is expected to take a turn for the worse when schools and colleges, which remained closed last week, reopen on Monday.

Another round of talks have been scheduled for Monday, failure of which would force bus operators to team up with a sympathetic trading community in the State to call for a joint `motor bandh' on Wednesday, according to Mr Mundappally.

Around 20,000 buses in the State are staying off the road in response to the strike call given by the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation from Sunday last.

Apart from the one relating to hiking the fares, other demands raised by the federation include reduction of concession fares applicable to students from the present 75 per cent to 50 per cent and a ban on issue of new bus permits.

The State Government has now warned that it would be forced to invoke powers vested with it under the relevant provisions and act, in public interest, to force seizure of private buses and operate them. It had declared transport industry as a public utility service.

A verdict by the Kerala High Court had in February this year directed the Government to take steps to declare the public transport sector, including bus services, as a public utility service to avert any possible threat to public in the event of a strike bus by bus operators.

It had also directed the Government to take necessary steps to operate as many buses owned by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) as were necessary to areas serviced by private buses during the strike period.

More Stories on : Roadways | Trade & Labour Unions | Petroleum | Kerala

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