Private buses to be off roads in Kerala from Oct 29

Kochi: Private bus operators in Kerala would withdraw services from October 29 midnight demanding hike in bus fares. The All Kerala Bus Operators Co-ordination Committee, comprising eight organisations, which met in Kochi on Saturday, took a decision to this effect. Briefing reporters, T Gopinath, Coordination committee General Secretary, said there is need to urgently hike the bus fares in the light of increase in diesel price.

The committee had on September 25 held discussions with Transport minister, Aryadan Mohammed on increasing fares. Government had sought time till October 10, he said. "We are giving 15 more days to the government to take a decision on bus fare hike. Due to hike in diesel prices, the per day expenditure of each bus has gone up by Rs 600."

The committee has demanded raising the minimum fare to Rs 7 from Rs 5 and increasing student fares.