Bus that offered free travel for men fined for permit violation in Kerala - The HinduPublished - July 04, 2026 12:04 am IST - KochiThe Motor Vehicles department (MVD) on Friday (July 3, 2026) imposed a fine on the operator of a private bus that had drawn attention after its owner reportedly announced free travel for men in response to the ‘Priyadarshini’ free bus travel scheme for women on KSRTC buses. The operator was fined for allegedly cancelling a scheduled service in violation its permit conditions.The fine was imposed on the operator of the private bus plying the Aluva-Manjaly route. According to MVD officials, regular passengers complained that the bus had cancelled its afternoon service. An inquiry by the department found that the bus had failed to operate its scheduled trip between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.Officials said cancelling a scheduled service amounted to a violation of the permit conditions, following which a fine of ₹7,500 was imposed on the operator.The bus owner reportedly told officials that the afternoon trip was cancelled due to poor patronage and to avoid financial losses, despite the free-travel offer for men. Private bus operators have raised objections to the Priyadarshini scheme, citing financial losses as more women passengers opt for KSRTC buses.Published - July 04, 2026 12:04 am ISTSign in to unlock member-only benefits!Access 10 free stories every monthSave stories to read laterAccess to comment on every storySign-up/manage your newsletter subscriptions with a single clickGet notified by email for early access to discounts & offers on our products${ ind + 1 } ${ device }Last active - ${ la }