Normal life was partially hit in the district on Friday following the indefinite strike called by bus operators to press their demand for raising the minimum bus fare to ₹10.
All private buses went off the road, and students and office-goers were among the worst hit.
The attendance at government, private and educational institutions were moderate to low. Commuters had to depend on utility vehicles and taxis.
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To make up for the absence of private buses, the State-owned Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) conducted special schedules, especially to interior and hilly regions at Kuttiyadi, said District Transport Officer Abdul Nazar.
There was heavy rush at the KSRTC bus stand on Mavoor Road. About 10 to 15 schedules were operated in and around the city. Additional services were operated from Thottipalam bus depot. New schedules would be worked out depending on the requirement, he said.
Private bus commuters travelling from the suburbs and rural areas to the city for work were badly affected. They had to find alternative modes of transport, resort to hitch-hiking or take the day off.
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Usually, around 1,800 private buses conduct services in the district. About 800 buses operate from other districts to Palayam and mofussil bus stations.
About 300 private buses normally conduct services in the city.
The State government had announced a raise in the minimum charge from ₹7 to ₹8, but private bus operators said the revised fare failed to meet their demands.