The Kerala high court has directed the state government to consider the demand of private bus owners in hiking the students’ bus fare within three months.

They want the minimum charge for students to be increased from Rs 1 to Rs 2. Also, an additional 25% of the normal fare to be added to the student bus fare. The government now has to take a decision regarding this within three months.

Justice Ramachandran Committee was constituted earlier to look into the demands for hike made by the bus owners. The hike in students bus fare was one of the recommendations by the committee. But this was not implemented by the government, following which All Kerala Bus Operators Association had filed a plea in HC regarding this issue.

“The National Transportation Planning and Research Centre (NATPAC), a member body of the Ramachandran committee had conducted a study on the is sue. They took the opinion of bus owners as well as the public and then only came up with the solution,” said T J Raju, President of All Kerala Bus Operators Forum.

 “Students do not get concession in government buses. Then what is the logic in saying private buses should give concession for students,” said PP Johnson, treasurer of the forum.

The occasional hike in diesel charges does not make it convenient to give reductions in fare, said the forum.

The private bus owners are still not satisfied in the recommendations made by the committee. The forum have filed another petition in court demanding that the minimum charge for students should be raised to five rupees. They also want to increase 50% of actual fare after the minimum distance.The current minimum passenger bus fare is Rs 7.
SOURCETimed of India
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