Kottayam: Bus operators’ federation office bearers have said that they are being forced to stop bus services, demanding that the limited stop permits of long-distance buses that have been operating in the state for ages be renewed in a timely manner, that the student concession be made only for genuine students and that the ticket fares of students be increased, and that the brutal actions of the motor vehicle department and the police, which are imposing huge fines on bus owners on trivial grounds, be stopped.
The federation office bearers have submitted representations to the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister, including the ministers, on several occasions, raising demands for the survival of the bus industry. Federation President K.K. Thomas has gone on a hunger strike at the Secretariat and the federation members have held protest meetings and demonstrations in three areas of the state, but no positive action has been taken so far from the government.
They said that the federation was forced to suspend the service because the government was taking steps to disrupt public transport. In this situation, the office bearers said that they will announce the method and date of the strike within three to four days after consulting with other bus owners’ organizations and labor organizations.
Federation State President K.K. Thomas. State General Secretary Hamsa Erickunnan, Joint Secretary Palamuttam Vijay Kumar, Kottayam District President Jackson C. Joseph and Secretary Suresh attended the press conference in Kottayam.
