Bus operators want decision reconsidered

PALAKKAD: The Kerala Bus Operators Co-ordination Committee (KPBOCC) convenor T Gopinathan has asked the government to reconsider its decision to reduce the bus charge.To correct the discrepancies in the recent bus fare hike, the Cabinet meet on Wednesday had decided to reduce the ordinary bus fare to Rs 7 instead of Rs 8, which was fixed earlier.The fare would be yielded for 7.5 km to 10 km fare stage. Gopinathan alleged that the government has  reduced the bus fare without considering the report of the Justice Ramachandran Commission.“The report had proposed a minimum charge of Rs 5 for two fare stages and additional charges for the subsequent kilometres,” he said. “The government’s recent decision is against this and will affect the bus industry,” he said.Gopinathan said the recommendations of the commission to make the minimum charge of students concession as  Rs 1 and the concession rate of 25 percent of the revised bus fare was also not considered by the government.Gopinathan said that an emergency meeting of the  KPBOCC will be convened to discuss the matter and agitations will be planned in this connection.