JOIN US Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Thursday called for stringent measures to check exploitation by private inter-state bus operators who increase fares defying norms during peak travel seasons. He was addressing the 20th meeting of the South India Transport Council (SITCo) in Thiruvananthapuram.
Chandy said all the southern states should come together to restrain the operators who charge exorbitant rates from passengers. Keralites residing in other south Indian states have repeatedly highlighted the issue during festival and holiday seasons when private operators cite the rush and announce increased “special” fares.
The Chief Minister said safety of woman passengers was of top priority across the country and urged transport departments to ensure greater focus on their security. It is also critical for transport departments to share their resources and information databases and also have access to information from departments in the other south Indian states. The information-sharing model will help effective validation of documents.
The two-day meeting is being attended by transport ministers, secretaries and commissioners of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala. The meet has as its focus measures towards more streamlined inter-state road transportation in the southern states. Kerala raised disparities in taxation in the different southern states as a concern for operators in the state.