Thiruvananthapuram: Bus fares in Kerala is set to go up. State Transport Minister Antony Raju on Sunday said the bus operators'demand to raise the charges was justifiable. The minister did not specify the rates to be hiked.
"A decision will be taken considering the bus owners' plight as well as the public's convenience," Raju told reporters, a day after bus operators threatened to launch a strike.
The minister said the concession rates allowed for students will also have to be hiked. He warned that permits of buses which refuse to carry students will be revoked.
He said the fare hike was necessary for the state run KSRTC buses as rising fuel price has been causing it huge financial liabilities.
Private bus owners are threatening to go on strike yet again demanding a hike in fares.
The development comes in wake of the government's failure to implement the hike in fares as was agreed during a meeting with the private bus owner's association four months ago.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier approved the Transport Department's recommendation to increase the minimum charge from Rs 8 to Rs 10 for 2.5 km. But it was not implemented.
The association is now demanding that the minimum fare be raised to Rs 12 and the student's fare, to Rs 6.
The budget too had nothing in support of the bus owners, they said. It is believed that this further aggravated the situation and forced the association to take this hasty decision.
The association has planned an indefinite strike until their demands are met. However, they are waiting until March 31 for a response from the government.
The current minimum charge is Rs 8.
