Express News Service By

KOCHI: Close to 250 private buses in the State plying as ‘super-fast’ services will have to be converted into ‘limited stop’ services overnight, in the wake of an order issued by the Supreme Court on Monday.

The apex court in its order stated that private buses could not be granted permit to operate fast-passenger and super-fast services.

Rejecting a petition filed by the private bus operators, the Supreme Court held that private buses could be granted permission to operate ‘ordinary and ‘limited stop’ services only. Earlier, the Kerala High Court had issued an order upholding the State Government’s stance putting curbs on permit to private buses. The Supreme Court order will be a great relief to passengers who will now be able to travel at half the fares on services which were once ‘super-fast.’

Meanwhile, Private Bus Operators Federation president N P Sathyan said the verdict was a setback to 241 private bus operators currently conducting long-distance service in the State.

“The bus owners had revamped their buses to upgrade them to the ‘super-fast’ category. Once the bus services are converting into ‘limited stop,’ the fares would be slashed significantly. It would create loss to bus owners who have already spent huge amounts for upgrading the buses,” said Sathyan.

In 2012, then Transport Principal Secretary Elias George had issued an order restricting fast/super fast permits to private buses, and said that high fare was being collected by private bus operators after converting ordinary services into fast passenger services. Subsequently, the private bus owners approached the High Court, and later the Supreme Court against the notification.

“We will hold a meeting of bus operators and request the state to consider rescheduling the KSRTC buses. Private bus operators who are forced to slash the rates following the court order will have to suffer extra financial loss, KSRTC buses are also plying at the same time,” he said.