Expert panel recommends change in timings of Priyadarshini free bus service for women to offset loss to private buses in Keralam

Women travel in a KSRTC bus after the launch of the 'Priyadarshini' free bus travel scheme. File | Photo Credit: PTI The expert committee constituted by the Keralam government to study the issues faced by private bus operators following the introduction of the Priyadarshini scheme for women on ordinary buses operated by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has submitted its report, recommending measures to address the concerns of private bus operators.The committee, headed by former Transport Commissioner and retired IPS officer K. Padmakumar, has recommended several measures to compensate for the losses incurred by the private bus sector. Among its key recommendations is a change in the schedule of the Priyadarshini service to reduce the financial impact on private operators. The committee has also proposed several other measures to address their concerns.After the report was submitted, the Chief Minister and the Transport Minister held a meeting on Wednesday (September 2, 2026) morning to discuss its recommendations. Addressing the media after the Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister V.D.Satheesan confirmed that the report has strong measures to insulate the private bus industry from the impact of the free-ride scheme.The committee also suggested a model under which the government could lease private buses. Bus owners had earlier proposed that they were willing to lease their buses to the government at a fixed rate per kilometre. The committee also acknowledged the bus owners’ claim that they have been suffering daily income losses ranging from ₹1,500 to ₹6,000 in vulnerable stretches. However, the State government is expected to take a decision on the matter only after conducting a detailed study of the report.Transport Minister C. P. John is scheduled to brief the media in the evening regarding the committee’s recommendations. Since the implementation of the Priyadarshini scheme on June 15, private bus operators, especially in central and southern Kerala, have reported significant losses in revenue. Around 500 fully operational buses have reportedly stopped services following the rollout of the scheme. The crisis is particularly acute in Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Wayanad districts.Private bus owners had been hoping that the committee would recommend measures to compensate for the losses suffered by the sector. They had also demanded financial assistance for private buses similar to the support provided to KSRTC. The committee submitted its report after holding sittings in Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam and Kozhikode, where it heard the grievances and concerns of private bus operators. The report was submitted on the 50th day after the committee was constituted. Published - September 02, 2026 12:39 pm IST