Chennai: Despite the Madras high Court directing omni buses to collect existing fares for 2015-16, private buses operators are overcharging. One-way travel from Chennai to other southern districts in an air-conditioned bus now costs anywhere between Rs 1,800 and Rs 2,000. An official release issued by the government said during Deepavali season between October 27 and 31, the existing fare announced by all Omni Bus Owners Association for year 2015-2016 should be collected by operators as per the Madurai bench of the Madras high court direction.
The hiked fare should not be implemented, it said. However the high court order is not being adhered by several major omni bus operators. For instance, an AC sleeper ticket to Madurai is being sold at Rs 1,800 from Chennai on October 28, Friday before Deepavali. All Omni Bus Owners Association fixed fare for Madurai in the multi-axle sleeper bus is Rs 1,270. Fares to places like Tiruneveli, Tenkasi and Nagercoil are high at Rs 2,000 or more.
“Unless the government fixes fares, omni bus operators will continue to fleece passengers,” S. Gomathy Shankar, a passenger. “We have formed 10 special teams to check on omni buses collecting excess fares. Each team will have a RTO and five vehicle inspectors. They will be stationed in Koyambedu, ECR, Vandalur, Poonamallee, Red Hills and Chengelpet from October 27 to 31. Buses collecting excess fares will be confiscated when they reach the destination to avoid causing inconvenience to passengers,” a senior transport department official said.
