Even as the transport corporation had extended city transport provider MTC’s services to the suburban areas after increasing its operational area from 30 km to 50 km, a few years ago, residents of those fringe areas allege that the number of ordinary buses of TNSTC (Villupuram corporation) have been drastically reduced.
MTC has been operating more deluxe buses collecting excessive fare (double the ordinary fare + 50 paise) in Tiruvallur, Mahabalipuram, Sriperumbudur and Gummidipoondi.
This has forced commuters travelling to the city, a majority of them underprivileged, to shell out more on transportation. Taking a cue from MTC, private operators and TNSTC have increased fares on a few routes.
“Though the corporation has reduced considerably the number of express and deluxe services within the city, deluxe bus services to the suburbs have been increasing since the time of the previous DMK regime,” laments Mr Senthil Kumar, a civic activist.
Once the MTC extended its boundaries, since then, the number of TNSTC town buses had either been gradually reduced or completely stopped. “For instance, route Nos. T16 (Tiruvallur-Avadi) and T17 (Tiruvallur-Poonamallee) have been completely stopped. While T16 was replaced by an MTC express service (572), MTC deluxe buses (597, 596, 501, 566A) started to ply on T17 route. MTC operates only deluxe (591, 591A, 591B, 591C) buses to Poonamallee from far-off Perambakkam,” he points out. “MTC charges Rs 21 to Poonamallee in deluxe buses, which will be only `12 if ordinary buses were operated,” he says.
Commuters, mostly labourers, wanting to reach the interior parts of the city, are left with no option but to buy the one-day pass that costs `50, as it seems to be more economical than travelling by deluxe buses.
TNSTC has followed suit, introducing deluxe services like 516 to Avadi, 517 to Poonamallee and 518 to Sriperumbudur from Tiruvallur.
The 591 deluxe service was introduced on the Perambakkam-Poonamallee route.
Also, private operators collect excessive fares from passengers. Worse, passengers have now started to use precarious share autos that collect the same fare, notwithstanding their meeting with freak accidents quite often.
When contacted, a senior MTC official said they would look into the issue if it was brought to their notice and added that they have been operating more number of ordinary buses to suburbs.