The private bus operators, who have been hit by the Priyadarshini free travel scheme launched by the State government for women and transgender persons on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses, will hold a relay dharna in front of the Secretariat from July 20 to 25, demanding measures to protect the private bus industry from the crisis triggered by the scheme.Bus operators from different districts will participate in the relay dharna in batches. According to the Bus Operators Federation Central Committee, the dharna on July 20 will be led by bus owners from three districts who are members of the Federation. The dharnas on July 21, 22, 23, and 24 will be led by bus operators from two districts each, while on the final day, July 25, the dharna will be led by bus owners from another three districts.Representatives of bus owners’ associations have also decided to hold a joint consultation meeting in Thiruvananthapuram on June 30 with representatives of trade unions such as CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) and BMS (Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh) to formulate protest programmes, including the strike and the suspension of bus services.Since June 15, private buses operating on routes served by the KSRTC under the Priyadarshini scheme have been finding it difficult to meet operational expenses, including fuel costs, as many women passengers have shifted to KSRTC buses to avail themselves of the benefits of the scheme.“Hundreds of private buses will stop their services from July 1 by submitting G Forms,” said Hamsa Erikkunnan, general secretary of the Kerala State Private Bus Operators’ Federation.According to T. Gopinathan of the All Kerala Bus Operators Organisation, submitting G Forms is also not a practical solution, as buses will have to be subjected to fresh fitness test by officials of the Motor Vehicles Department before they can resume services once the G forms are submitted.“We want measures to prevent bus operators from being pushed into a crisis triggered by the scheme, which could eventually force them to stop their services,” Mr. Gopinathan said.Meanwhile, the private bus operators in Wayanad held a token strike on Monday by stopping the services and seeking steps to protect the private bus industry. Published - June 29, 2026 09:46 pm IST