Commuters demand end to SETC’s bus fare anomaly

The passengers claimed that they were at the receiving end of the exorbitant fare charged by the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) bus operators from November 4, especially during weekends with higher differential fare.

According to A Sankar, Executive Director, Empower, Centre for Consumer, Environment Education, Research and Advocacy, on Thursday said that private omni bus operators usually fleeced passengers travelling on long distance routes mainly during festival occasions of Deepavali, Christmas, New Year and Pongal, however, passengers fleeced by State run buses was disheartening.

Referring to the SETC bus fare displayed at Vadasery bus stand in Nagercoil, Sankar said, each of the passengers boarding buses from Nagercoil to Chennai had to pay Rs 815 on weekdays till Thursday, but the fare increases to Rs 965 during Friday to Sunday. Hence, every passenger, who travels on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, were destined to pay an additional fare of Rs 150. The overpricing of bus tickets would certainly affect the common people, said Sankar.

The state run bus operators capitalizing the weekend travel, are indulged in such ‘unfair practice’ by hiking the passenger fare, he alleged. To put an end to this, Sankar said that he has sought the help of government authorities to regulate the bus fare and urged the need to end the differential bus fare. The issue has been taken to the notice of Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami for necessary action, he added.