Kochi: Private luxury bus operators have yet again resorted to skyrocketing ticket prices ahead of upcoming festive season. They take advantage of the massive rush of Keralites heading home for ‘Vishu’ from metro cities like Bangalore.
Fares of air-conditioned luxury sleeper buses have touched Rs 3000-mark in the Bangalore-Ernakulam sector even as no seats are available in the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation buses on the weekend, especially April 12 and 13. To make matters worse, the railways is not operating any special services to clear extra rush.
“Only a couple of special trains from the division, Mumbai-CSMT-Kochuveli and Pune-Ernakulam Jn, were announced this summer, that too the services would start after Vishu. The railways ignored our continuous demand for a special train from Bangalore KSR,” said Paul K. J. Manvettom, president of All Kerala Rail Users Association.
“The only option now left for us is private luxury buses. However, AC buses are charging Rs 2700 to Rs 3000, almost double the normal ticket rates. The railways are also not operating any special trains, probably due to pressure from this lobby,” said Adarsh N., a techie working in Bangalore and a native of Thrissur.
Even for non-AC buses, the ticket rates are in the range of Rs 1600 to Rs 1800 for night running buses.
Malayalees are attempting to reach home at least by Sunday morning ahead of Vishu on April Monday. The ‘Vishu Kani’ is observed during early hours on the day.
Though ticket rate for day-running non-AC buses is comparatively cheaper, commuters opt for the same as the last option due to the ongoing heatwave. Meanwhile, the KSRTC is operating 27 non-AC special services to Bangalore and back from April 10 to 23 from depots like Kozhikode (8), Kannur (5), Payyannur, Thrissur (4), Ernakulam (4), Kottayam (4) and Thiruvananthapuram (2).
