Consequent to the increase in bus fare implemented from Saturday by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations across the State, the mini-bus operators have effected a steep and arbitrary hike in fare structures affecting the rural people.
Following the recent transport corporation staff strike for higher wages among other things, the State Government allowed the transport corporation reeling under burgeoning debt burden to increase the fare after almost seven years. In the meantime, cost over runs almost on every sphere of activity resulted in increasing debt burden on the already stressed corporations that turned red.
The fare revision exercise steeply increased the travel cost adding to the worries of the common man. While the far revision also took care of the private operators and affected the whole lot of commuters, the rural folks are bitterly complaining that they are in fact the worst sufferers as the mini-bus operators have revised the fares throwing to the wind all norms.
``From Thanjavur Old Bus Stand to Nanjikkottai we are now charged ₹10 instead of ₹ 7 previously. Similarly, the mini-bus operators are collecting ₹15 per ticket for Vengairayankudikadu, up from ₹9 and for Vilar the passengers are charged ₹12 which is ₹ 5 higher than the previous fare from the same terminus,’’ rues V. Muthulakshmi of Vengairayankudikadu. This definitely is unbearable for villagers like me, she says.
In other areas, the fare between Old Bus Stand and Mariamman Koil has been hiked to ₹ 10 from ₹ 7, while the mini-bus conductors demand ₹18 per ticket for Panjanadhikottai from the same place of origination instead of the previous ₹ 12.
The situation is not much different in Kumbakonam region. ``Just now I paid ₹ 10 instead of ₹ 6 for my travel from Kumbakonam to Swamimalai. This is too much for rural populace. I wonder whether it is right to apply the same yardstick for the mini-buses plying the rural stretches as they do for the city and mofussil buses where income and revenue generation is far better,’’ demands K. Thirumurugan of Melakottaiyur near Kumbakonam. Think how much extra outflow a month rural people would incur if the fare is hiked suddenly by ₹4 or 5 a trip, he adds.
At a different plane, the mini-bus conductors claim that they are doing what their owners have ordered. ``Sir, I’m just collecting the fare as directed by my owner. Passengers do take offence at the hiked fare though most understand the situation. I’m forced to reply sternly to some commuters who pick up arguments with me during the busy trips over the fare hikes. The passengers need to know that we are not cheating,’’ explains a mini-bus conductor P. Kumaragurubaran of Vilar in Thanjavur district.
Briefed on the situation, Kumbakonam Regional Transport Officer Arunachalam said that the mini-bus operators must charge additionally only ₹1 per stage and not more. If they were charging ₹ 5, then they must charge only ₹ 6 now. If discrepancies are brought to our notice, we will take stern action, he said promising to look into the alleged excesses.
