Bus travel burns hole in pockets

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Commuters travelling on Viluppuram Corporation Buses from the Koyambedu Bus Terminus (CMBT) to suburban Poonamallee, which is a commercial hub for dozens of adjoining villages, through the Maduravoyal route, have to shell out two different fares, both in excess than the fixed rate.

In a reply to an RTI query that sought to find the difference in fares between two routes – Guindy and Maduravoyal — the State Transport Corporation (Villupuram division) had recently clarified that the bus fare between Poonamallee to CMBT was Rs 9 for express services and Rs 7 for ordinary services, while fares via the Guindy route wasRs 14 and Rs 11. The fares had been fixed after the hike, based on the distances.

The distance between Poonamallee and Koyambedu terminus via Maduravoyal is 16 km and through Guindy, 25 km.

Earlier, buses plying to northern towns including Vellore, Kanchipuram and Tiruttani were being operated via two routes — Guindy and Maduravoyal.

However, the buses that were being operated on the Guindy route are now ply through Maduravoyal owing to Metro Rail works.

Passengers, however, complain that they are being forced to pay different fares when they travel to Poonamallee in these buses with two different route permits.

“The buses that had been permitted only to operate via the Guindy route, though they are being operated through Maduravoyal now, have to charge more that the ‘Maduravoyal route permit’ buses.

But, ‘Maduravoyal route permit’ buses have also now started to collect the same excess fares as that of Guindy route buses,” complained Mr Senthil Kumar of Iyyapanthangal.

The transport authorities should take steps to set right the differences in fares, he appealed.