Kerala: Students, bus operators clash over concession
The KSU activists and private bus staff clashed here on Friday after the latter implemented a ‘self-declared’ hike in students’ ticket fare disregarding the government decision. A bus was damaged as the students pelted stones at the private buses at Chinnakkada. The private buses also staged a flash strike in protest against the incident. Kollam east police arrested several student leaders, including KSU district president Vishnu Vijayan and state general secretary Suhail Ansari.
According to KSU activists, the bus owners demanded higher rates from students than those fixed by the government, which prompted them to stage protest blocking private buses. The fare has been hiked with effect from March 1, without altering the students’ rates. The private buses in the district have allegedly refused to abide by the government decision.
The private bus associations allegedly levied higher rates while the government directive was to levy only 25 percent for the first fare stage. In the third fare stage with a charge of Rs 10, the students’ rate has been fixed at Rs 2 while the private buses levy up to Rs 4. A sum of Rs 6 is levied in the fourth and fifth fare stages where the charge is Rs 12- Rs 13, according to KSU activists. The KSU has warned of district-wide protests, including blocking private buses, to implement the government rates. The KSU district committee has also demanded convene the student travelling facility committee to resolve the issues.
