SFI Demands Rollback of KSRTC Student Pass Fee Hike, Vows to Launch Strong Protest Against Policy

Thiruvananthapuram: The Students' Federation of India (SFI) has demanded that the UDF government withdraw its decision to increase the fee for renewing student travel passes on Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) services, describing the move as a betrayal of students.

In a statement, the SFI State Committee alleged that the online renewal fee for student passes had been increased from ₹10 to ₹110 in a single step, representing an eleven-fold hike.

According to the organisation, students had been able to obtain and renew their travel passes for ₹10 through a fully digital system until the previous academic year. The steep increase in charges places an unnecessary financial burden on students and undermines their right to affordable public transportation.

"This is an injustice towards ordinary students across Kerala. A facility that was made available through a simple and accessible digital process has now become significantly more expensive," the statement said.

SFI pointed out that lakhs of students rely on the state's public transport system for their daily commute to schools and colleges. The student body further alleged that the decision effectively weakens the benefits associated with the student concession scheme and vowed to launch strong protests against the policy.

SFI State President M Sivaprasad and State Secretary P S Sanjeev urged the government to immediately revoke the revised fee structure.

They warned that if the decision is not withdrawn, the organisation would intensify its agitation and launch statewide protests in defence of students' rights.