Operators looking to make a killing this season by fleecing passengers
Picture for representational purpose.
Coimbatore: With train tickets getting booked out within minutes of their opening for Deepavali, omni buses in Coimbatore have raised the fares like never before. A trip to Chennai from Coimbatore by a non AC semi sleeper bus, which normally costs Rs 450 to Rs650, has gone up as high as Rs1,000 to Rs1,700. A ticket in an AC semi sleeper costs nothing less than Rs2,000 and for an AC sleeper; it has touched an all time high of Rs 2,500.
Similarly from Coimbatore to Bengaluru, considered another favourite destination, passengers had to shell out more than Rs 2,000 to travel in an AC sleeper bus, whereas the fare hovers around Rs1,500 to Rs2,000 in an AC semi sleeper. On normal days, one can travel in a bus at as low as Rs 350,which goes up to Rs900 for an AC sleeper."In a few more days, there may be a further hike in ticket fares depending on the increasing demand among the public," said A Madhan of Ohm Traveltz Point. Buses bound to Trivandrum, Puducherry, Madurai and other Southern districts are also in high demand.
"It has become a regular affair for many to hire tourist buses and operate as specials in busy stretches to make a quick buck. They advertise their services online in numerous booking websites. As most of the bookings happen online, they go about hiring a bus only later with the money collected based on the ticket sales," Mr Madhan said.
"Since I don't like to cough up so much just for a single journey, I opted to travel in the general compartment of a train to celebrate Deepavali. Though it may be uncomfortable, I am left with no other options as the private buses are charging too high," said C. Ram Kumar, a college student, who is bound to Chennai. Meanwhile, the omni bus owners alleged that it is the middlemen (brokers) who continue to sell bus tickets at exorbitant rates. "The brokers hire buses for rent and lure passengers by charging too high utilizing the demand," said M. Stephen, president of Coimbatore Omni Bus Owners and Travels Association.
Further, he said that though the association has already raised the issue with the transport officials, nothing concrete has been done so far. "A solution to the issue of fleecing could not be found, unless the government fixes a stipulated fare for the buses. We have already made a demand," he said. When queried, a transport department official, preferring anonymity said that six special teams headed by Regional Transport Officer (RTO) have been formed to curb violations.
"From Friday, they will check buses for permit violations, tax evasions and go through passenger identity at Gandhipuram and omni bus stand. Action will also be taken against travels firm, if there is any issue of fleecing," he said.The transport department has also decided to open control rooms to receive phone complaints from public.
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