Chennai: Videos show govt mofussil buses collecting excess fares

CHENNAI: Government mofussil buses, plying in Chennai’s suburban areas, have been collecting excess fare from passengers, according to videos accessed by TOI.
As per the rate slab fixed by the government, ordinary mofussil buses should collect 7 as minimum fare and 58 paise for every stage travelled after that along with tax. But conductors on these buses, operated by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Villupuram, collect fares meant for express (limited bus stop) services.The minimum fare for the latter is 10 and per stage cost is 75 paise.
P Senthil Kumar, a resident-activist from Iyyappanthangal, who travelled on an ordinary mofussil bus between Thiruvallur and Kanakammachatram on Saturday paid 20 for his ticket. But the actual fare is 15. In one of the videos shot by Senthil a conductor can be heard saying there is no difference in fares between ordinary and express services on these routes.
The managing director of TNSTC Villupuram said it was the conductor’s fault and assured to take action. The corporation runs at least 100 buses in the Tiruvallur region and more than one lakh passengers travel on them.
Back of the envelope calculations suggest that at least 10 crore is being illegally collected from passengers by conductors working on these routes. “Taking cue from government buses, private buses also overcharge and there was hardly any checking done by transport officials. Moreover, private buses have stopped issuing tickets to avoid questions,” said Senthil Kumar.
In response, transport department officials said they conduct routine checks and last year they have booked 80 private buses for demanding excess fare. They have also promised action against those not issuing tickets.