The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Bus operators demand revision of student fares

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 02, 2006

Kerala

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Bus operators demand revision of student fares

Staff Reporter

To take up the issue with the Transport Minister

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Private Bus Operators' Federation has urged the Government to intervene to revise the existing student concession fares in the State.

Addressing a press conference here on Thursday, federation president A.K. Abdulla and general secretary Lawrence Babu said the financial crisis being faced by the industry was owing to student concession being given without any norms.

The prevailing student concession was fixed five decades ago when the price of diesel was 72 paise. The price of diesel has gone up to Rs.34 per litre.

But the fare for students has come down from 50 per cent to 16 per cent, they said. The price of spare parts, tyres and lubricants had gone up over the years, they added.

It would not be possible to allow students in private buses if the price of diesel is increased.

Instead of hiking the price of diesel and passing it on to bus commuters, the Union Government should reduce the customs duty and excise tariff on crude oil petrol and diesel, Mr. Abdulla said.

The State should also reduce the sales tax on petrol and diesel, he said.

The federation has decided to take up the issue with the Transport Minister and the Left Democratic Front leaders, the federation president said.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail