Private Bus in Aluva Offers Free Rides for Men in Unique Protest
In a unique form of protest against the challenges faced by the private transport sector, a private bus operating on the Aluva-Manjali route in Ernakulam district offered free rides to men and distributed sweets to women passengers. The protest, organized by Bivo David, the owner of the ‘Little Flower’ bus, aims to draw the government’s attention to the deep crisis in the private bus industry following the introduction of free travel for women on KSRTC buses.
While welcoming the initiative to provide free travel for women, David pointed out that the decision could severely impact the private bus industry, which is already struggling with rising fuel prices and high operational costs. He emphasized that private operators, who cater to a significant portion of the commuting public, need government support and policy interventions to survive. The rising cost of diesel has made daily operations unsustainable for many owners.
The bus owner expressed hope that the upcoming budget would include measures or concessions to protect the private bus sector. Passengers on the ‘Little Flower’ bus welcomed the unique protest, with many acknowledging the difficulties faced by private bus operators and calling for government intervention to sustain the public transport ecosystem.
