The New Indian Express ·
Panel proposes wet-leasing private buses for KSRTC’s Priyadarshini free travel scheme
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A high-level expert committee appointed to evaluate the private bus sector has recommended that the government utilise private buses to run KSRTC’s Priyadarshini free travel scheme under a wet-lease arrangement.
Under the proposed model, private buses would operate at a per-kilometer rate fixed by KSRTC, deployed at a ratio of one private bus for every two KSRTC services.
The committee, chaired by retired DGP, K Padmakumar, formally submitted its report to Chief Minister V D Satheesan on Wednesday. The panel was constituted to suggest relief measures for private bus operators facing severe financial distress following the rollout of the Priyadarshini scheme in state-run ordinary buses. Among its core proposals, the panel advocated declaring private bus operations an industry with MSME recognition, enabling operators to access bank loans, technical assistance and financial incentives.
