Private bus operators in Kerala have voiced strong opposition to the United Democratic Front's (UDF) initiative to provide free travel for women on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) buses. T. Gopinathan, the State general secretary of the All Kerala Bus Operators Organisation (AKBOO), criticized the proposal as a unilateral decision that could jeopardize the financial stability of private bus services. He emphasized that women and students constitute the majority of passengers on private buses, and the implementation of free travel on KSRTC buses would lead to a significant loss of revenue for private operators, making it challenging to cover wages and fuel costs. Gopinathan highlighted that the situation in Kerala is unique compared to neighboring states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, where the number of private buses is lower. He also mentioned prior discussions with V.D. Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition, who had assured bus owners that their concerns would be taken into account. In response to the proposal, KSRTC has started gathering data on male and female passengers to prepare for the potential implementation of the free-travel scheme.