The token strike called by private bus operators across Kerala on Tuesday (July 8) affected normal life in Kozhikode district, as passengers were forced to wait for hours at bus stands and stops for some form of transportation. Hundreds were stranded at the Mofussil bus stand in the city as well as at the Kozhikode railway station. Though the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) had assured more services to compensate for the absence of private buses, KSRTC services remained sparse.

Many commuters had arrived from far-off places, including other States, unaware of the strike. Some were left helpless after reaching Kozhikode by train, hoping the strike would not be severe. Others had assumed the strike would be called off in the morning. While KSRTC operated a few services to major towns in other districts, there were hardly any to remote areas within Kozhikode district, such as Balussery and Kuttiady. Meanwhile, autorickshaws in the city operated tirelessly.

The private bus operators went on a token strike after their talks with the Transport Commissioner in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday (July 7) failed. The bus operators’ demands include increasing the student ticket fare from ₹1 to ₹5, or at least to half the normal fare. They are also urging the government to withdraw the order mandating police verification for all bus crews, citing impracticality.

The operators have warned of an indefinite strike from July 27 if their demands are not met by then.