Palakkad, Saturday 31 July 2010: Private bus operators in the State have decided to postpone their decision to hold an indefinite strike on August 3rd on assurance given by Transport minister Jose Thettayil. The decision was taken in the joint coordination committee meeting of the private bus owners held here, on Saturday.

The State Transport minister Jose Thettayil had assured that a favorable decision would be taken regarding various issues including a hike in the bus fares as per the recommendations of the newly formed Committee. The minister had announced the government’s intention to hike bus fares at an informal press conference in Kochi.

Their demands include minimum fare at Rs 5 and the kilometer rate at 60 paise in view of the recent hike in the diesel price. The union has also demanded an upward revision in student’s concession, increase in the bus fare commensurate to operating costs, setting up of a tariff regulatory committee and an end to cannibalization of private bus routes by the State-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC).