Marginal cut in bus fares by Tamil Nadu Government

Looking at revenue loss and wage revision for transport workers, Transport department officials claimed that they were constrained to increase the bus fare across the city on January 20. However, the hike was almost doubled both in mofussil buses and Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses and the steep hike invited criticism from both public and political parties. 

Since the Transport department operates different categories of mofussil and MTC buses, the revised rates have been slightly reduced for all kinds of buses. As per new revision, for ordinary buses, 58 paise per km will be collected against a raise of 60 paise as announced earlier. Similarly, 75 paise per km will be charged in Express buses against its previous fare of 80 paise. 

Super Deluxe buses will get 85 paise per km against 90 paise and Ultra Deluxe bus will receive 100 paise per km, which was earlier 110 paise. Finally, a total of 130 paise per km will be charged in the A/C buses against its old fare of 140 paise.

The department also announced revised structure for MTC and other city buses. Accordingly, a minimum fare in MTC buses will be Rs 4 against the previous cost of Rs 5, while the maximum has been fixed at Rs 22 against the old rate of Rs 23 for ordinary buses. 

Meanwhile, officials said that the minimum fare for MTC Express buses has been fixed at Rs 6 and that for the Deluxe bus has been fixed at Rs 10.

When contacted by DT Next, PWC Davidar, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport), said that such fare revision was expected to satisfy commuters and at the same time, not affect revenue of the transport department. 

However, those campaigning against the hike expressed dissatisfaction over the revision. MG Devasagayam, a former civil servant and State Transport Commissioner and State Highways, Haryana, said, “There are a lot of workers in the Tamil Nadu transport department and common people are at the receiving end by paying exorbitant bus fares, for the sake of workers’ salary. The department should relieve unnecessary workers.”