The Hindu Business Line : Kerala private bus owners meet today

THE State Council of the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation will meet in Thrissur tomorrow to work out its response to the State Government's decision to increase bus fares.

Announcing this at a press conference here today, Mr Khalid Mundappally, President of the Federation, said that the hike in bus fares announced by the State Government was "unfavourable" as it did not match the demands of the private bus operators. The meeting will determine the federation's future course of action, he added.

When asked whether the private bus operators would go ahead with their plan to launch an indefinite strike from September 17, Mr Mundappally replied that a decision on this issue will be taken at the State Council's meeting.

With diesel prices being increased twice in recent weeks, the State's private bus operators had wanted the minimum fare to be raised by one rupee and the rate per km hiked by 20 paise, he pointed out. Instead, the Government has increased the minimum fare by only 50 paise and increased the per km rate by only seven paise, Mr Mundappally said.

The State Government has also declared that the fare hike announced today will not be applicable to students, Mr Mundappally said. This is not acceptable to private bus operators, he added.