Mahila Aikya Vedi state president Nisha Soman said in a press release that the order regarding fare hikes during Hindu festivals issued by state-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) is anti-Hindu and a challenge to Hindus. In the months of August, September, and October, there is an increase in fares for express buses.

Hindu festivals such as Onam and Navratri are celebrated during this period. It is a time when Hindus working in far-off places come to participate in the celebrations with their families. A rate hike of 30% at this time will cause a financial burden on Hindu society. It also causes many people to skip trips. This action of KSRTC which does not increase fares during any festival of other religions is objectionable.

In April, KSRTC came out with a new diktat that clearly favored one community. “There were complaints that private buses were conducting unauthorized services violating rules and without following any approved ticket rate, claimed KSRTC and government officials. These services are conducted just ahead of the KSRTC services and cause heavy losses to the corporation. Following this, the KSRTC recently started 223 takeover services as per the direction of the state government on routes above 140km in order to benefit passengers.  The corporation would offer a 30% discount on ticket fare on these routes to attract passengers, said a release issued by the Corporation,” read the article.

Authorities called it “Takeover Services” and most such services ferried Hajj pilgrims traveling to Hajj houses and airports. KSRTC drivers allegedly accept bribes from private buses and delay their arrival during peak hours. However, as per norms, not even recognized private agencies are allowed to operate within 500 meters of KSRTC depots. Experts have often opined that trade unions and ‘socialist’ governance in Kerala have created a mammoth loss-making entity using lackluster unmotivated staff and ill-maintained vehicles. KSRTC is just one of several such liability-laden govt-owned monopoly-based corporations.

Last November, KSRTC increased the bus fare to Pampa with the beginning of the Sabarimala Mandal pilgrimage season. The rate hike was around 30 percent. From Pathanamthitta to Pampa, instead of 112 rupees, devotees paid 143 rupees on the fast passenger bus. There was an increase of Rs 39 in Super Fast Passenger buses.

KSRTC is the only public transport system authorized to conduct trips to Pampa. The fare hike came when private vehicles could not ply public services to Pampa. Even before the beginning of the Mandala season, Hindu organizations had informed the government of their protest citing inadequate facilities. The complaint was that there were inadequate facilities at Pampa and Sannidhanam. The green communist regime in Kerala immediately increased govt-run bus fares.

Kerala Kshetra Samrakshana Samithi district president N C C Induchudan and others approached the high court questioning this atrocious jizya tax. A division bench comprising Justice P R Ramachandra Menon and Justice Devan Ramachandran declined to interfere.