The uncertainty over the long-overdue city entry of private buses that operate from Goshree islands to High Court Junction, after a notification put a 25-km cap on their trip distance, could result in many of the around 120 private buses that operate in the corridor surrendering their permits, informed sources have said.
The owners of nine buses had sought the permission of the Motor Vehicles department (MVD) to extend their operations to the city. While six buses sought their extension to Kakkanad, one bus wanted to operate up to Vyttila Mobility Hub.
Expressing concern over the 25-km cap, bus operators reiterated that the notification issued in November 2023 by the Transport department failed to take into account the suggestions that they made at a public hearing on the draft notification held in early 2023. “We fear that this may lead to a fall in the number of buses that operate in the sector,” they added.
