Kochi, 14 June (H.S.): As Kerala prepares to roll out free bus travel for women on KSRTC ordinary services from June 15 under the state government’s Priyadarshini scheme, a private bus operator in Ernakulam has announced an unusual form of protest.

The owner of the private bus Little Flower, which operates on the Aluva–Manjaly route, has declared that male passengers will be allowed to travel free of charge on the service for one day on Monday. The initiative is being presented as a symbolic protest against the government’s decision to provide free travel exclusively to women on KSRTC buses.

Bus owner Davis, a resident of Vattaparambu, said that all male passengers travelling on Little Flower between 6.30 a.m. and 8 p.m. on June 15 would not be charged any fare. He also announced that women who continue to patronise the private bus despite the availability of free travel on KSRTC services would be welcomed with sweets as a gesture of appreciation.

Speaking about the decision, Davis said that the Aluva–Manjaly route is dominated by KSRTC services and that his bus has been operating on the route for more than 25 years. Much of the route overlaps with KSRTC operations, making competition already challenging for private operators.

According to him, the government’s new free travel scheme is likely to significantly reduce the number of passengers using private buses, particularly women, who constitute a major share of daily commuters. The resulting decline in ridership, he argued, could have a serious impact on the financial viability of private bus services.

Private bus operators across the state have expressed concern that the free travel scheme, while beneficial to women passengers, could severely affect their revenue and threaten the sustainability of the private bus industry. The protest by Little Flower highlights the growing anxiety within the sector ahead of the scheme’s launch.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman