KRISHNAGIRI: A bus ticket purportedly showing a journey from Bhavani Bypass to Dubai, UAE, with a fare of Rs 10,000, went viral on social media on Monday. The passenger, identified as P Damadoran, claimed he received the ticket after boarding a Coimbatore-Bengaluru bus at Bhavani Bypass to reach Hosur. The actual fare for that route is Rs 150. However, the ticket printed by the conductor allegedly showed the destination as Dubai and the fare as Rs 10,000 per male passenger.
The post sparked widespread sarcastic comments and amusement online. However, The Times of India later discovered that the ticket was fake and AI-generated. The newspaper stated, "This story is fake as the bus ticket turned out to be AI-generated and circulated on social media. The passenger, identified in the copy as P Damadoran, remains incommunicado despite TOI reaching out to him several times over the phone to seek his clarification and establish the authenticity of the ticket. TOI deeply regrets the error."
Official Clarification
Officials from the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) Salem division initially attributed the incident to a software error in the electronic ticketing machine. However, after further investigation, it was confirmed that the ticket was not genuine. A senior TNSTC official said, "The ticket image was manipulated using AI tools. Our ticketing systems do not generate such destinations or fares. We urge passengers to verify tickets from authorized sources."
Social Media Impact
The viral post had garnered thousands of shares and comments, with many users making sarcastic remarks about the "Dubai trip." One user wrote, "Finally, a bus service to Dubai!" Another commented, "Rs 10,000 is a steal for a bus to Dubai." The incident highlights the ease with which AI-generated content can spread misinformation.
About the Author
V Senthil Kumaran is currently working as the Special Correspondent for The Times of India, focusing on the districts of Salem, Namakkal, Dharmapuri, Krishnagiri, and Erode. As the sole representative for these five districts in Western Tamil Nadu, he covers a wide range of topics, including crime, education, and civic issues. He has exposed numerous scams and held several government officials accountable for their actions. In addition to his journalism work, he holds an MBA in Human Resources, an M.Sc. in Psychotherapy, and an LLB, along with a BA in English Literature.
