The government has no intention to stop student concessions in Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses even though the Corporation incurs an additional expenditure of ₹124.26 crore in 2018-19 on account of this, Transport Minister A.K. Saseendran has said.
Students up to higher secondary classes were allowed free ride, while for degree students and above, only 17.32% of the ticket charges were levied, the Minister told the Assembly on Friday.
Concessions could be allowed only in routes where there were services now and new services cannot be started just for students. At present, concession was allowed only on travel within 40 km.
For tribal students
The government would consider allowing concession to students, especially tribal students, who secured admissions in institutions beyond the 40-km radius, the Minister said in reply to questions by T.V. Ebrahim, N. Shamsuddin. C. Mammootty and K. Babu.
He said the delay in allowing concessions to students in CBSE and ICSE institutions were because these institutions had failed to submit the affiliation certificate on time.
Applications for concessions were taken up at the KSRTC chief office and not depots. Concessions were allowed only in ordinary and limited stop ordinary buses.
