Were helpless, cry bus owners

KOCHI: Private bus workers seem to believe that they have the privilege to misbehave with the passengers, especially students. There were instances in which private bus workers pushed the students out of the running bus. According to the bus owners, they are unable to control the workers. “We know that many of the workers misbehave with the people. Earlier we could control the workers. Now they dictate the terms,” M B Sathyan, general secretary of the Private bus Operators Association. “If we question their attitude, workers will quit the job the next moment. We are running short of workers. So we are helpless,” he said.Around 100 city buses have stopped their services in the last one year. The situation is going to worsen. Bus owners are of the view that the proceedings for allowing travel concession for students for the private and KSRTC buses should be the same. “Now, these students will have to pay three months’ fare in advance for securing the concession in KSRTC buses. In our case, the procedure is very simple,” Sathyan said.