RTO pulls up bus operators over fare hike

What triggered the warning was information that passengers of private buses, operating between Vellore and Vaniyambadi, Tirupatthur and Krishnagiri, were being charged high rates without any advance notice. Sources revealed that operators adopted the ploy of terming a bus as an express and then increasing the ticket price. The cost of a Rs.7 ticket was increased to Rs.10, while the Rs.10 fare was hiked to Rs.13, Rs.29 to Rs.40 and Rs.60 to Rs.67, on Sunday night.

This resulted in altercation between conductors and passengers and the latter threatened to offload passengers who refused to pay. When the bus reached Vaniyambadi bus stand, passengers assisted by others blocked private buses from leaving resulting in police rushing to the spot. The impromptu agitation was given up after police promised action.

RTO officials then warned operators of action and stated that rates could not raised without official sanction. They threatened to act if passengers gave the RTO written complaints with copies of the higher priced tickets.