Thiruvananthapuram: The five-member committee that studied the impact of Priyadarshini scheme on private stage carriage buses has recommended that govt declare private buses as an industry on a par with MSME to make it easier for the owners to access investments and loans.This is part of the 13-point recommendation submitted by the committee headed by ex-DGP K Padmakumar to chief minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday.Transport minister C P John told reporters that the state govt wouldn’t take an approach to harm the private bus sector and would implement all recommendations of the report as far as possible.Private buses are facing a business decline from the pre-Covid days due to multiple reasons, including rising use of two-wheelers and cars and an increase in ownership of multiple vehicles, he said.Route and time rationalisation will be done on routes where Priyadarshini buses are running, he said.John said the committee has recommended that KSRTC operate private buses under a wet-lease arrangement as part of the Priyadarshini scheme. “If three buses are operated, one will be on wet lease from private owners. The bus will be maintained by the owner but the conductor will be from KSRTC. A sum will be given to the owner. This way, KSRTC need not buy buses,” he said.The committee chairperson Padmakumar said key recommendations included allowing private bus owners to pay vehicle tax monthly without changing the existing tax structure; amending Kerala motor vehicles rules to increase the age limit for private buses from 22 to 25 years; allowing private bus operators to buy fuel at dealer rates from KSRTC pumps; and permitting advertisements on private buses, provided they don’t compromise passenger safety.The committee asked govt to explore providing insurance coverage to private buses through the state insurance department, helping operators avoid high premiums charged by private insurers. It recommended measures to resolve timetable disputes involving Priyadarshini services and the formation of regional- and state-level coordination committees to improve coordination between KSRTC and private bus schedules.The report also proposes the formulation of a comprehensive transport policy by integrating various public transport systems, he added. It recommends gradual introduction of an IT-based mobility card that can eventually be used across all public transport services.The committee prepared the report after holding sittings in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode to hear the grievances and suggestions of private bus owners.
