<p>Commuters travelling between Karnataka and Kerala will be inconvenienced over the next few days as inter-state private bus operators in Kerala went on an indefinite strike from Monday. </p>.<p>Talks held between the Kerala government and representatives of the Inter-state Bus Owners’ Association-Kerala (IBOA), who went on strike citing slapping of heavy fines by the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department for permit violations, on Monday evening failed.</p>.<p>As many as 400 private buses operate from Kerala daily. Of this, about 250 ply between major towns in Kerala and Karnataka.</p>.<p>In wake of the stir, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation operated 13 additional services to Bengaluru on Monday.</p>.<p>“We are evaluating the demand from passengers and based on that additional services would be operated,” said a Kerala SRTC official. </p>.<p>Private bus operators started to feel the heat after a few passengers in a Bengaluru-bound bus belonging to Suresh Kallada Tours and Travels were assaulted in April.</p>.<p>Following the incident, the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department launched a special drive named ‘Operation Night Riders’ to rein in inter-state private bus operators. During the first month, over 5,000 services were inspected and blatant violations in permit norms were found.</p>.<p>Fines worth Rs 2.5 lakh was collected in the first month itself.</p>.<p>Kerala Transport Minister A K Saseendran told bus operators that any unwanted harassment by officials would be checked but enforcement activities will not be stopped.</p>
<p>Commuters travelling between Karnataka and Kerala will be inconvenienced over the next few days as inter-state private bus operators in Kerala went on an indefinite strike from Monday. </p>.<p>Talks held between the Kerala government and representatives of the Inter-state Bus Owners’ Association-Kerala (IBOA), who went on strike citing slapping of heavy fines by the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department for permit violations, on Monday evening failed.</p>.<p>As many as 400 private buses operate from Kerala daily. Of this, about 250 ply between major towns in Kerala and Karnataka.</p>.<p>In wake of the stir, the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation operated 13 additional services to Bengaluru on Monday.</p>.<p>“We are evaluating the demand from passengers and based on that additional services would be operated,” said a Kerala SRTC official. </p>.<p>Private bus operators started to feel the heat after a few passengers in a Bengaluru-bound bus belonging to Suresh Kallada Tours and Travels were assaulted in April.</p>.<p>Following the incident, the Kerala Motor Vehicles Department launched a special drive named ‘Operation Night Riders’ to rein in inter-state private bus operators. During the first month, over 5,000 services were inspected and blatant violations in permit norms were found.</p>.<p>Fines worth Rs 2.5 lakh was collected in the first month itself.</p>.<p>Kerala Transport Minister A K Saseendran told bus operators that any unwanted harassment by officials would be checked but enforcement activities will not be stopped.</p>