നാല് ജില്ലകളില്‍ സ്വകാര്യ ബസ് പണിമുടക്ക്; വലഞ്ഞ് യാത്രക്കാര്‍

Private bus services have come to a standstill in four Kerala districts—Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, and Kollam—following a strike called by the Private Bus Operators Association. The primary catalyst for the protest is the financial strain reportedly caused by the government's free travel scheme for women on KSRTC buses, which operators claim has significantly reduced their daily revenue. The association is demanding that the government either include private buses in the free travel concessions or announce a comprehensive financial compensation package to cover their losses. As part of the protest, bus owners are organizing marches and sit-in demonstrations in front of the Collectorate in Kottayam and at various taluk centers in Alappuzha, Cherthala, and Mavelikkara. Commuters across these regions are facing significant travel disruptions, with many struggling to find alternative transportation during the strike. The outcome of these protests remains uncertain as the operators await a formal response from the government to address their long-standing financial grievances.