Date:31/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/31/stories/2008103153050300.htm

Kerala - Kozhikode

Bus strike total in district

Staff Reporter

Photo: S.R.K.

People’s woes: Passengers struggling to get into a bus at the KSRTC bus station in the city on Thursday following a strike called by private bus operators in the State. –

KOZHIKODE: People were put to hardship as private buses went off the roads in deference to the State-wide token strike called against the decision of State government not to renew licence issued to buses. The strike was total in the district.

Though KSRTC operated additional services to city and suburbs and other areas of the district and private jeeps, autorickshaws and taxis plied, the travelling public suffered.

The KSRTC operated additional services including one to Mavoor and three others to Balussery route apart from its normal services to other parts of the district and outside.

No attack on KSRTC buses was reported from the district.

People also hitched rides on two-wheelers. Residents of Kunnamangalam and neighbouring areas had to depend on private jeeps.

Unlike previous bus strikes, these jeeps were not overcrowded, except during peak hours in morning and evening.

Apparently, most stayed indoors anticipating trouble. Attendance at the Civil Station here was fairly good with only a handful from far-flung areas taking leave.

The Bus Operators’ Organisation and Kerala State Private Bus Operators Federation declared that they would oppose the move by the government to cancel permits given to private buses.

The organisations said that permits issued to 2,000 buses in the district would be converted to temporary licences. These would be cancelled in the future, the office-bearers of the organisations said.

They said that a large number of bus operators had taken loans to run the services. Lakhs of people employed in the sector would lose their jobs, they added.