Kerala private bus operators threaten strike over free travel scheme losses

Private bus operators across Kerala have issued a strike threat in response to mounting financial pressures caused by the state's Priyadarshini free travel scheme for women, which allows female passengers to travel without charge on public transport.

The operators, who run a significant portion of Kerala's inter-city and intra-city bus services, have sought immediate intervention from the state government. Their demands include an increase in bus fares across categories, including student fares, implementation of a diesel subsidy to offset fuel costs, and additional financial measures to compensate for revenue losses from the free-ride scheme.

The Priyadarshini scheme, launched by the Kerala government, has been widely praised as a progressive policy supporting women's mobility and economic participation. However, private bus operators contend that the initiative has created an unsustainable financial burden, as they are not fully compensated for the revenue forgone on free tickets issued to women passengers.

The operators argue that without government support, they cannot maintain service quality or fleet expansion. The threat of strike action comes at a time when Kerala's transport sector is already grappling with rising operational costs and fuel expenses.

The state government has not yet responded formally to the operators' demands. The standoff highlights the tension between implementing welfare schemes and ensuring the financial viability of private transport operators who form a crucial part of Kerala's public mobility infrastructure.