Delays in procuring new govt buses - SETC to hire sleeper cum seater buses for long routes from Chennai!!
There has been delay in procuring new government buses now and due to this reason SETC or State Express Transport Corporation would hire sleeper cum seater buses for long routes including Chennai to places like Madurai, Kovai and Tirunelveli etc. The fare would be the same and unchanged to ensure affordability.
In phase 1, 20 private buses would be roped by SETC as there would be peak demand during the summer holidays plus during festival weekends and other auspicious days etc. Information is that the leased buses would have 15 berths and 30 seats. The private operators would be responsible for drivers and maintenance etc and the buses would operate from the depots. There would be conductors posted by SETC to issue tickets and collect bus fares from the passengers.
According to Mr. D. Ramakrishnan, resident activist from Adambakkam it was clear that the addition of sleeper cum seater buses would increase the options of the passengers. He threw light on how most buses that run on the festivals were basic mofussil seaters.
The 1080 buses that are currently available with SETC for long distances and overnight operations etc would not be sufficient to cater the increasing demand especially in the holidays.
