Omni bus owners raise their fares
Posted on: 07/Oct/2016 2:29:59 PM
In view of the five continuous holidays, the omni bus owners have raised their fares anywhere between 40 to 50 percent. This has a put a great hardship to the passengers.
Daily between Chennai and outstations, nearly 600 to 700 buses are being operated. During the festive seasons nearly 1200 omni buses are being operated. Thousands of people travel in these buses.
At this juncture, after Saturday and Sunday, there will also be holidays on Monday (Ayutha Pooja), Tuesday (Vijayadasami) and Wednesday (Muharam). Because of this lakhs of people have started booking tickets by trains and buses to reach their destinations from Chennai.
No special buses have been announced by the government on the occasion of Ayutha pooja holidays. But taking into account of the festive crowd, additional buses are to be operated from Koyambedu and Tambaram bus terminals. In order to avoid last moment hustle, passengers who are going with their families have started booking tickets in the omni buses for the last two days. Using this opportunity the omni bus owners have raised their fares. Instead of the usual fare, they are demanding more from 40 to 50 percent. Because of this, the outstation passengers are put lots of hardship.
The minimum fare charged by omni bus owners are as follows:
- Chennai-Trichy - Rs 650 and Rs 800 A/C
- Chennai-Coimbatore - Rs 900 and Rs 1100 A/C
- Chennai-Madurai - Rs 850 and Rs 1000 A/C
- Chennai-Thanjavur - Rs 650 and Rs 850 for A/C
- Chennai-Tirunelveli - Rs 1000 and Rs 1200 for A/C
Some of the passengers complained that the omni bus owners charge exorbitantly during the festive seasons.
Monitoring the omni bus fares
Though there is increase in the operating omni bus services, Tamil Nadu government does not determine the fares. Because of this lakhs of people are getting affected. The State Government is running additional buses only during the Deepavali and Pongal festivals. Even special advance booking counters are being opened during this period. People are asking that why such special buses are not being announced by the government during the Pooja holidays. Moreover the government should monitor the omni buses fares.
When asked a transport official about this, he said: Action will be taken against the omni bus owners who charge more. Very soon a team of RTOs will be formed to monitor this.
