Palakkad: The Kerala State Bus Operators Association has called for an indefinite bus strike from November 1 amid rising fuel prices. The organisation is demanding a hike in both the minimum charge and students' concession fare.

The Association wants the minimum fare on private buses to be raised to Rs 10 from the existing Rs 8. The concession fare for students should be set at Rs 5, the coordination committee of the operators' body said.

Another demand to the government is to take immediate action to give relaxation in tax payment. The union authorities claimed it is difficult to operate bus services as diesel prices go up.

A protest march will be organised by the Association to the Secretariat on November 8.

Another bus operators' body - the Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation -- will also observe a strike on November 15. A state committee meeting of the body on November 17 will declare an indefinite strike if the government is not ready to take a favourable stand on the issues raised by them, stated president M B Sathyan and general secretary Lorence Babu.