Kerala Owner Selling Tourist Buses Worth Rs 50 Lakh For Just Rs 45 Per Kg

The message by the Kochi-based bus owner clearly indicates the near-death situation faced by the tourism bus industry in the state of Kerala.

With the COVID-19 pandemic disrupting his business, Royson Joseph is selling his tourist buses at Rs 45 per kg – the rate of scrap. The owner of Roy Tourism, who put up the Facebook post, also informed that he had sold 10 out of his 20 tourist buses in the last 12-18 months. He was forced to take the decision as the travel restrictions amid the pandemic have brought the tourist bus operators to their knees.

Royson has sold 10 buses at distress rates in recent months, just to repay his loans. “I’m ready to sell my buses to anyone who pays me Rs 45 per kg. The situation is really bad; many tourist bus operators are on the verge of suicide,” he said, reported Indian Express.

According to Contract Carriage Operators Association (CCOA), the total number of tourist buses in the Kerala has come down from 14,000 to 12,000 during the pandemic.

The Sunday lockdowns implemented by state governments recently to curb the spread of coronavirus also caused massive harm to the bus operators as it affected the package tours of 8-10 days. Other than this, the operators also have to pay hefty road taxes increasing their burden. The rise in fuel cost is also a major concern for bus owners and operators.

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