Private buses do not run for the time being; Negotiations between the bus owners and the transport minister failed

 Talks with the Transport Minister regarding the resumption of private bus services failed again.

The minister reiterated that the demand of bus owners to avoid road tax till December could not be accepted now. The minister said the approval of the finance ministry and the chief minister would be required to announce the exemptions.

He said bus owners should decide whether to suspend private bus services. The government is ready for talks again. He also said that people should think about it before stopping the service. He said if the service was stopped now, passengers would be forced to leave public transport.

The Bus Operators Coordinating Committee said more than 10,000 buses had been stopped across the state as part of the protest. The Minister informed this to the bus owners during a meeting held at Kozhikode Guest House.