Bumpy Ride: Private bus sector in Keralam staring at a crisis
Private bus operators in Kerala are facing a financial crisis due to increased competition and the government's introduction of free travel schemes. Drivers and conductors are struggling to maintain schedules and profitability amidst heavy traffic and declining passenger numbers.
Why it matters
It illustrates the challenges faced by traditional transport sectors when public policy shifts to prioritize subsidized public transit.
It was raining intermittently on a cloudy evening when a private bus on the Attingal–Venjaramoodu route entered the crowded Attingal private bus stand in Thiruvananthapuram in Keralam.
Even before the engine fell silent, the bus crew spotted another bus at the stand—a service that, according to the route schedule, should have left the stand around 30 seconds ago. Within moments, a heated argument began between the crew of the two buses. The crew of the former bus alleged that the latter bus was eating into their business by deliberately delaying its departure and poaching passengers. After several minutes of heated exchanges, the latter bus finally left the stand, with only a handful of passengers.
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