Passengers travelling on the outskirts of Madurai were caught off guard on Tuesday after private bus operators began collecting an additional ₹5 per ticket without prior notice. Following inspections by transport department officials, operators reverted to the approved fares.
Passengers express shock over sudden fare hike
The issue surfaced on the Melur-Mattuthavani route, where passengers who normally paid ₹15 were charged ₹20 during the morning hours. “Private buses were the cheaper option for us and helped us reach Mattuthavani quickly. Share autos are crowded and stop frequently, while government buses often take longer,” said passenger Maruthupandian.
Another commuter, Madhubalan, a daily-wage labourer, said the hike would burden workers who rely on the service every day. “An additional ₹5 each way means ₹10 a day, which may seem small but matters for labourers and low-income groups,” he said.
Operators cite rising costs, but legal experts call it violation
Private bus operators defended the increase, citing rising operating costs. They said diesel prices and toll charges had increased recently and argued that approved bus fares had not been revised by the government for more than seven years. Transport activist A Ayyanar said fare revisions must follow the prescribed legal process and cannot be implemented unilaterally. “Private bus operators cannot arbitrarily increase fares. It is a clear violation of the Motor Vehicles Act and can attract penalties of up to ₹10,000,” he said.
Transport department steps in
After TOI brought the issue to the notice of the transport department, enforcement officials conducted inspections on the route. As news of the checks spread, operators restored the approved ₹15 fare.
“We will continue surprise inspections on Wednesday and check reports will be issued to violators if excess fares are collected again,” a transport department official said.
The incident highlights the need for timely fare revisions and strict enforcement to protect commuters, especially daily-wage workers who depend on affordable public transport.
