Private buses in Kochi would keep off the road on Saturday, in support of the hartal called to protest against the fuel price hike.
The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation will operate its long-distance trip and normal trips only after 6 p.m. on Saturday, a KSRTC official said. The option of operating buses on convoy was not considered as there was no police protection for buses. The services would depend on Saturday's law and order situation, the official said.
It is doubtful whether services would resume even after 6 p.m., said M. B. Satyan, general secretary of the Ernakulam District Private Bus Operators Association. Two passenger ferry services of the SWTD from the city to West Kochi would ply before 6 a.m.
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The other services would depend on the police protection given to them at the jetty and the number of passengers. They would resume after 6 p.m.
The annual general meeting of the Ernakulam region of Milma, scheduled on Saturday, too has been postponed in view of the hartal. The heads of Milma societies from Ernakulam, Idukki, Thrissur and Kottayam districts were to participate in the meeting. The new date will be announced later, according to the Chairman of the Ernakulam Regional Cooperative Milk Producers' Union Limited.