Kozhikode: The public transport in the state will be hit in all likelihood with over 2,000 private buses and nearly 10 per cent of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) ones stopping services by the end of this month.
The temporary service cut is the result of a hike in diesel prices. The Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation, the largest collective of private bus operators in the state, says the actual figure will be available by the end of this month, when more operators are expected to request stoppage.
They say the parking of the buses that discontinue trips by the wayside will be a problem as the police do not allow it.
The federation representatives met labour and excise minister TP Ramakrishnan and transport minister AK Saseendran on Tuesday in Kozhikode.
Federation Kozhikode district president M Thulaseedasan said they requested a subsidy on diesel or a waiver of taxes.
KSRTC chairman and managing director Tomin Thachankary told Onmanorama that nearly 7% of the trips had to be curtailed due to the rise in diesel price, in just one month. “By the end of this month, the condition would again worsen.
The price of a litre of diesel increased from Rs 60 to Rs 64 in four months after I took charge. KSRTC spends Rs 3.75 crore on fuel per day.
One day's collection is spent entirely on diesel for the next day. Those trips with least collection have been directed to stop,” he said.
The trips during non-peak hours, from 11 am to 3 pm are curtailed more, especially in the rural areas where there are no private buses.
With private buses applying for 'stoppage' by the end of this month, the jobs of thousands of employees also would be at stake.
Though the services can be restarted after paying the taxes, it is unlikely that the buses can continue services soon, with diesel prices rising.
Buses needed 80 to 120 litres of diesel on a daily basis. KSRTC buses plying long routes are also not filling full tank, since the depots are also running short of fuel.
