Wayanad private bus operators get relief as authorities move to review KSRTC service timings

Kalpetta: In a significant relief for private bus operators in Wayanad, district authorities have decided to examine and revise instances where Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses and private buses operate simultaneously on the same routes, a situation that operators say has sharply reduced their passenger numbers and revenue.

The decision was taken at a meeting of private bus owners held at the Collectorate Mini Conference Hall on Friday under the chairmanship of Additional District Magistrate (ADM) K. Ajish. The move comes amid growing concerns over financial losses allegedly linked to the implementation of the state's Priyadarshini transport scheme.

Officials have asked private bus operators to submit details of routes and timings where KSRTC and private services run at the same time. Authorities said the information will be reviewed before taking further action.

According to representatives of private bus operators, overlapping schedules have led to a steep decline in ridership on private buses, making several services financially unsustainable. The operators argued that passengers often opt for KSRTC services running under the Priyadarshini scheme, leaving private buses with insufficient revenue to cover operating costs.

Private Bus Operators Association district president PK Haridas said operators would soon provide route-wise details to facilitate the review process.

Bus stand operations in Sulthan Bathery to be streamlined

The meeting also decided to strictly implement the allocation of services between Sulthan Bathery's old and new bus stands to avoid operational confusion and ensure smoother traffic management.

Services to Thaloor, Ambalavayal, Ayyankolly, Gudalur, Vaduvanchal, Kalpetta and Mananthavady will continue to originate from the Chungam bus stand. Meanwhile, buses operating to Pulpally, Nambiar Kunnu, Kalloor and Pattavayal will start services from the old bus stand.

Authorities reiterated that KSRTC buses should adhere to the prescribed arrangements. The directive follows complaints from private operators that KSRTC buses were being parked and operated from the old bus stand, affecting the earnings of private services. Police have also been instructed to ensure compliance with the existing traffic advisory committee decisions.

Demand for 10 min time gap on loss-making routes

Private bus operators renewed their demand for a minimum 10-minute gap between KSRTC and private services on routes where they claim losses have become severe. Among the routes cited were Kalpetta-Mananthavady, Sulthan Bathery-Mananthavady, Kalpetta-Vaduvanchal and Pulpally-Mananthavady.

KSRTC officials, however, informed the meeting that decisions regarding such schedule changes are beyond the district-level administration's authority. The matter, along with other concerns raised by operators, will be forwarded to the state government for consideration.

Officials present at the meeting included Regional Transport Officer K.R. Sumeesh, KSRTC District Transport Officer T.R. Rajesh and representatives of the Private Bus Operators Association.

Priyadarshini scheme and financial concerns

The latest discussions come after weeks of unrest among private bus operators, who claim the Priyadarshini scheme has caused substantial revenue losses. Operators estimate that some buses have been losing up to ₹5,000 per day, pushing owners and workers into financial difficulty.

As part of a planned protest, around 300 buses in Wayanad had earlier submitted G-Forms to the Motor Vehicles Department seeking permission to suspend operations from July 1. A token strike was also observed on June 29.

However, the proposed agitation was withdrawn following talks led by ADM K. Ajish earlier this week. Friday's meeting was convened as a follow-up to those discussions, with authorities seeking practical solutions to address the concerns of private bus operators while maintaining public transport services across the district.