PMK Appeals to TN Government for Bus Fare Regulation Following High Pongal Rates
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Synopsis
The PMK has urged the Tamil Nadu government to set minimum fares for private Omni bus operators due to the exorbitant rates charged during the Pongal festival, calling for regulation and stricter penalties to protect passengers.
Key Takeaways
- PMK demands regulation of private bus fares.
- Exorbitant fare increases noted during Pongal.
- Online platforms displayed prices up to Rs 5,000.
- Government helplines for complaints were unresponsive.
- Calls for stricter penalties against overcharging.
Chennai, Jan 19 (NationPress) The Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) has urged the Tamil Nadu government to establish minimum basic fares for private Omni bus operators due to their charging of excessive rates from travelers during the recent Pongal festival.
PMK president and former Union Minister, Anbumani Ramadoss, brought attention to the issue of private omni buses demanding fares significantly higher than normal.
He called on the government to regulate fares in accordance with judgments delivered by the Madras High Court.
“The government has not implemented any definitive measures to curb the exorbitant fares charged by private omni bus operators during peak travel periods like Pongal,” stated Anbumani.
He indicated that online booking platforms displayed fares of Rs 5,000 for a journey from Coimbatore to Chennai and Rs 4,500 from Tirunelveli to Chennai.
“These rates were six to eight times higher than those charged by government-run buses and four to six times above the usual private bus fares. The government holds an obligation to regulate these fares, but it has fallen short. Passengers were unable to reach the helpline numbers established for reporting such issues, and even when complaints were filed, the imposed fines of Rs 1,750 per bus were minor and ineffective in preventing overcharging,” he remarked.
Anbumani also criticized the government for ignoring such exploitation and demanded stricter penalties along with the establishment of maximum allowable fares for omnibuses.
Reports of overcharging continue during the Pongal rush, as travelers across Tamil Nadu faced steep ticket prices due to omnibus operators taking advantage of the high demand.
Many travelers noted that the government’s helplines for addressing overcharging were unresponsive. Passengers heading to Chennai provided specific examples of inflated pricing: Nagercoil to Chennai: Rs 3,899 (standard fare: Rs 1,500–2,500), Madurai to Chennai: Rs 3,950 (standard fare: Rs 1,500–2,500), Coimbatore to Chennai: Rs 5,000 (standard fare: Rs 2,870 for premium AC sleeper buses). For a journey from Madurai to Chennai, the Omni Bus Owners’ association had set a maximum fare of Rs 2,550 for a Volvo AC sleeper.
Despite this, passengers were charged up to Rs 3,899. Jeevanandam, a traveler from Coimbatore, mentioned that he opted for a non-AC ultra-deluxe SETC bus to Chennai after failing to secure a Tatkal train ticket and discovering the omni bus fares to be unreasonably high. Overcharging during festivals has become a recurring problem in Tamil Nadu.
While government buses offer an alternative, their availability frequently does not meet demand. Anbumani has appealed to the state government to take rigorous action against omni bus operators to safeguard passengers from being exploited.
