Talks failed; Inter-state bus strike to continue
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Thiruvananthapuram: A talk held here today between Interstate Bus Owners Association (IBOA) and Transport Minister AK Saseendran has failed to reach a consensus. IBOA said that the indefinite strike will continue as their demands were not met.
The association alleged that Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) was levying high fines on them as part of 'Operation Night Riders' drive.
The minister has said that 'Operation Night Riders' will continue despite the opposition from the bus owners.
In the talk, the minister ensured that the checking of the MVD will be conducted without causing hindrance to driver and other staff.
As 293 interstate buses are staying off the roads, the strike is affecting many passengers to and from Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.
The MVD had started 'Operation Night Riders' recently following a series of incidents in a bus of Kallada Travels, where employees of the travels behaved badly with passengers.
It is learnt that the IBOA had given proposal to the government to constitute passenger redressal forum consisting of members like retired regional transport officer, retired superintendent of police, senior High Court lawyer and representative of bus owners and passengers associations. The government is yet to approve the proposal.
In the wake of strikes, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to operate additional four buses from Bengaluru to Kerala.
