Private bus operators in the State have decided to withdraw their indefinite strike called on November 21 following a meeting convened here on November 14 by Transport Minister Antony Raju with the office-bearers of the bus operator associations.
The department has agreed to look into their three main demands. Responding to the demand to increase students’ concession to 50% of the ordinary fare and an increase in minimum fare for students to ₹5, Mr. Raju said a decision would be taken based on the report of the Raghuraman Commission, which is expected by December 31. The age limit to avail concessional travel would be limited to 27 years.
The department would also look into the demand of the operators to restore bus services that operated beyond 140 km and also to permit the resumption of limited stop services, he added. Bus operators pointed out how 150 newly purchased buses, each costing up to ₹40 lakh, had not operating trips since May due to curbs on trips beyond 140 km.
