Kerala private bus owners threaten indefinite strike from July 22 over unmet demands

Private bus owners across Kerala commenced a statewide token strike today, July 8, 2025, to protest the state government's perceived inaction on their long-pending demands. The strike follows unsuccessful discussions with the Transport Commissioner on Monday, where an agreement could not be reached regarding various crucial issues affecting the sector.

Among the key demands raised by the striking bus owners are a significant revision of student concession rates, which have remained fixed at ₹1 for the past 13 years despite rising operational costs. They are also pressing for faster renewal of expired permits, the withdrawal of a directive that converts limited-stop services into ordinary buses, and the scrapping of a requirement for bus workers to obtain police clearance certificates. Operators argue that these issues are severely impacting their viability and operations.

The private bus owners' associations have issued a stern warning: if their demands are not adequately addressed by the government in the coming weeks, they will escalate their protest into an indefinite statewide strike starting July 22. Another round of discussions with the state government is anticipated in an effort to avert further disruption to public transport. Meanwhile, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has stepped in to mitigate commuter inconvenience by operating additional services today, specifically catering to vital locations such as hospitals, airports, and railway stations based on demand.