Coimbatore: Private bus operators hike fares to cash in on Diwali rush

COIMBATORE: Private bus operators have increased the fare to the city from Chennai by anywhere between Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 for airconditioned sleeper buses, as the demand has increased with people returning to their hometown in large numbers for Diwali.
The bus fare to Chennai from the city has also shot up, with the people booking in advance to return to their workplace after the festival. While an airconditioned sleeper bus ticket was priced at anywhere between Rs 700 and Rs 900, the fare has shot up to Rs 1,400-Rs 1700 now. Premium bus tickets are, meanwhile, sold at up to Rs 2,200.
C Vimalraj, a resident of Ganapathypudur in the city, said a bus ticket to Chennai used to cost only Rs 800 on any normal days. “But now the fare has increased to Rs 1,500. Since only a few seats were available, I had no other option but to book the ticket. The price might go up if I book at the last minute.”
People, who do not mind spending a few hundred rupees extra, are opting for air travel. They said compared to the premium bus fare, the flight ticket was higher only by around Rs 1,000.
A private bus operator based in Gandhipuram said the festival time was an opportunity for them to make some money after incurring huge losses during the Covid-induced lockdown. “We hadn’t operated buses for months together during the lockdown. But we were forced to pay all the taxes. We can earn something only now.”
A transport department official said they had already warned the bus operators against hiking the prices and asked them to stick to the prices that were fixed by the government. “Surprise inspections would be conducted and strict action would be taken against the erring bus operators.”