Kochi: Thousands of Malayalees in neighbouring metro cities, especially Bengaluru, are having a tough time travelling back home this Onam. While violence over the Cauvery water row has landed the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation in a fix over operation of its special and regular services to the garden city, the private bus lobby is making the most of the heavy rush, charging exorbitant rates.
Though seats are still available in private luxury buses, most of them are charging an additional Rs 500 to Rs 1000 during the Onam period. While ordinarily tickets are priced at Rs 1050 in a Volvo A/c multi axle semi-sleeper, private buses are now charging Rs 2000 and above for a single ticket.
“There is no seat available in trains and private buses are charging exorbitant rates. For instance, Golden Pearl Travels is charging Rs 2850 per ticket for the bus leaving Bengaluru at 8 pm this Friday. But people who booked tickets are in trouble because political parties have declared a bandh in Karnataka on that day,” said Kiran Tom Sajan, an Ernakulam native who works in the Garden city.
“KSRTC is operating a total of 10 Super Deluxe and two Super Express Special services in the section starting from Thursday. But, with our buses being pelted with stones during protests over the Cauvery issue, we will operate buses only if the situation calms down,” said R. Prithviraj, co-ordinator, Interstate services.
Another section is the Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram one where too ticket rates have soared over Rs 2,000 for the AC Volvo services.
