Kerala Man Who Owned 20 Luxury Buses Puts Them Up For Sale As Scrap Due To Pandemic Losses
Luxury buses including sleepers and semi-sleepers crisscrossing the length and breadth of Kerala carrying both domestic and foreign tourists were a regular sight in the state for as long as one can remember.
But in the past two years, the COVID-19 pandemic that devastated the tourism section also brought these mighty buses to a halt.
While most of the sectors have since started recovering, the tourism industry is still reeling under the crisis and many stakeholders say they might have to leave the industry for good as they don't have the resources to start from scratch once again.
Royson Joseph a native of Kochi is one such entrepreneur. At the peak of his business, Royson's Royal Travels had a fleet of 20 luxury buses.
Due to failing business and mounting losses that have now reduced to 10 and even then he is struggling to survive.
The extent of his plight was revealed in a Facebook post by the Contract Carriage Operators Association Kerala (CCOA).
Rs 45 per kg for sale
'Tourist buses for sale - Rs 45 per kg - the message read.
Unable to continue business Joseph said he wants to sell off the remaining buses as scrap, just to feed his family.
Like many bus operators, Joseph also had hopes that tourism activities will pickup in December-January, which is one of the busiest tourist seasons in Kerala.
But the resurgence of COVID-19, in the form of Omicron, dashed his hopes and according to Joseph, in the past week, only three of his buses got at least one trip to Munnar.
Now Joseph said he has had enough and wants to sell his buses as scrap at just Rs 45 a kilo.
According to him, even when the buses are not running operators like him are forced to pay taxes, insurance amounts, salaries to employees and maintain the vehicles, all from their pockets.
"I cannot run this business anymore"
"I cannot run this business anymore. I have already sold ten of my 20 buses to survive. I'm ready to sell the remaining buses at scrap value. The survival of my family depends on this. Our employees are also in crisis," he told local media.
He also alleged that bus operators are continuously harassed by the police and the motor vehicle department in the name of COVID-19 checks and they are made to pay hefty fines even for small violations.
"I pay nearly Rs 40,000 in tax for each bus. I also pay taxes for the fuel and, pay Rs 80,000 as insurance. Still, my buses are bing pulled up by officals mid-trip for no reason," he said.
This, according to the CCOA is not an isolated case and many of its members have already bowed out due to financial crisis.
CCCOA also said that thousands of buses have been attached by loan providers after the owners were not able to repay the debts.
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