MK Stalin writes to TN CM, demands immediate rollback of bus fare hike

Chennai: DMK working president M.K. Stalin has called upon Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami to immediately rollback the hike in bus fare, saying it affected all sections of the society.

He dismissed as “mere excuse” the government's defence that the increase was effected due to a host of factors including rise in fuel price, maintenance cost, salaries and pension and purchase of new buses to increase efficiency.

Protesting against the hike in bus fares in Tamil Nadu, in his letter to the Chief Minister, a copy of which was released to the media here on Tuesday, Stalin said his DMK has proposed to state jail bharo (voluntary arrest to fill jails) on January 28 at all district headquarters demanding the withdrawal of the increased fares.

After a hiatus of six years, the State government had on January 19 hiked ticket fares of buses operated by state-run transport corporations and private entities by about 20 to 54.54 per cent. Commuters continued to throng railway stations as several felt travel by trains “was cheaper” compared to bus fares. Public also demanded that more trains be operated on various shorter distance routes connecting local junctions.

Mr Stalin suggested measures such as streamlining the administration of transport corporations, operating buses on profitable routes and using advertisement for revenue generation to make them economically viable. Instead of using such 'practical' measures, hiking fares would not ensure stability of transport corporations, he added.

The hike in fare had severely impacted various sections of the society including office-goers and it would further affect people already facing general price rise, the DMK leader said.