Kerala: No standing ride on super fast buses

Kochi: The High Court has banned standees on the fast passenger, superfast, express, deluxe, super deluxe and luxury services of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation. On the Centre for Consumer Education's petition, a division bench held that the passengers paying higher fares have the right to sit comfortably. The organisation moved the court seeking the implementation of Motor Vehicle Act and freeze the recent fare hike.    West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Benerjee with NCP chief Sharad Pawar after a meeting at Parliament house in New Delhi on Tuesday. NCP MP Supriya Sule and TMC leader Dinesh Trivedi are also seen.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) O P Rawat announces the schedule for Karnataka elections at a press conference in New Delhi on Tuesday. Karnataka assembly polls will be held on May 12 and counting on May 15.  The court declined to freeze the bus charge increase but directed the government to implement the Act strictly.  The court rejected the contention of the government counsel that only short-distance passengers travel by standing. The court however observed if the government wants it can bring amendments to the relevant provisions of the MV Act.             

The verdict will increase the burden of the cash-strapped KSRTC struggling for survival.     The KSRTC management held high-level discussions and decided to ask the government to amend the MV Act to circumvent the verdict.  Transport minister A.K. Saseendran said the government would consider approaching the HC with a revision petition. The income from the superfast services, one of the mainstays of the KSRTC, is likely to be worst hit.  According to KSRTC officials, the daily collection from a superfast service is around Rs 25,000 per day, and the verdict would halve it.  The KSRTC operates around 426 superfast services daily.  Passengers, especially short distance travellers during peak hours, expressed surprise over the verdict.