‘Kerala govt pushing us to suicide’: Interstate Bus Owners Assoc to stop services

Interstate Bus Owners Association-Kerala (IBOA) has decided to stop bus services from June 24, alleging that Motor Vehicles Department is taking stringent action against them.
‘Kerala govt pushing us to suicide’: Interstate Bus Owners Assoc to stop services
‘Kerala govt pushing us to suicide’: Interstate Bus Owners Assoc to stop services
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In protest against the stringent actions taken by Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) on interstate buses in Kerala, the Interstate Bus Owners Association-Kerala (IBOA) has decided to stop bus services to the state from June 24.

“The government is trying to push the bus owners to suicide,” said AJ Rijas, secretary of IBOA. The association officials also stated that they will urge the interstate buses registered outside Kerala to not pay road tax as protest.

According to IBOA, the officials of the department have been taking very strict action against the buses in the wake of some isolated incidents that happened in the past two months. The association had approached Transport Minister AK Saseendran asking him to look into the harassment by officials of MVD. “As there was no response from the minister and since it is not possible to pay Rs 10,000 per day and continue service, we have decided to stop services,” said officials of IBOA in a report of Manorama News.

IBOA officials also stated that though it was agreed in writing that they are ready to install redressal grievance mechanism in the companies, give training for the employees and reduce the tariff, the MVD is continuing to levy penalties citing some clauses.

According to reports, the Association has also urged Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to solve the crisis.

The MVD in the state had increased their vigil among interstate buses commuting in the state after certain unfortunate incidents that happened on some buses came into the open. It began with two passengers of interstate bus of Kallada Travels being chased and beaten up by employees of the bus. The incident had created a lot of outrage in the social media, and seven people have been arrested so far in the case.

Following this, similar incidents of bad behaviour of bus employees to passengers came to light. Three more incidents were reported in the buses owned by Kallada Travels itself.

The MVD was tightening its surveillance following these incidents.

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