The Hindu : Front Page : Bus operators for stir as talks fail

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Thursday, Jun 12, 2008
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Bus operators for stir as talks fail

Special Correspondent

Minister says fare revision cannot be considered now
Bus operators’ strike from June 24

Transport Minister Mathew T. Thomas

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Transport Minister Mathew T. Thomas and private bus operators failed to reach a settlement on the demands of the bus operators at talks held here on Wednesday.

The Bus Operators’ Coordination Committee announced after the talks that they would stick to their plan to go on strike from June 24.

The Minister informed the bus operators that their demand for limitation of student concessions and revision of rates could not be considered independent of a general revision of fares. A general revision of fares was a policy matter to be considered by the LDF State Committee. His department could not take a decision on that.

The Minister promised to hold a meeting of regional transport officers to discuss their demand against non-renewal of permits to private buses on 31 nationalised routes. The government had issued a notification on May 6 declaring its intention not to renew the permits. However, it was not to be implemented in one go. But the government had to take the losses of the State Transport Corporation also into account.

The bus operators maintained that their operating costs had gone up on account of increase in prices of diesel and lubricants. The concessions should be limited to poor students, excluding those studying in self-financing colleges.

They told the media that they were not for a confrontation with the government. However, a reasonable settlement to their grievances was necessary.

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