Passengers suffer due to double tax imposition on inter-state private buses, TN model offers solution

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government’s action imposing double tax on inter-state contract carriage buses has caused trouble to the passengers. The inter-state private bus passengers have rapidly increased bus fares due to this. There is a move to hike the rate again up to 40 per cent by Christmas and New Year.

It is pointed out that the state government can prevent this by adopting the measures of Tamil Nadu model. During the Navarathri and Diwali season, the Tamil Nadu government intervened and declared the fares in advance to prevent skyrocketing fares. It is estimated that at least 10 lakh people return home from Chennai during Diwali and other festivals. More than half of the people rely on private buses. Following the intervention of the Tamil Nadu government, the Omni Bus Association published the festive fare on its website two weeks before last Diwali. To ensure that this rate is charged, Transport Minister SS Sivankar conducted inspection.

Chennai to Thiruvananthapuram fare has increased from Rs 1400-1600 till two days ago to Rs 1650-2000. Bengaluru-Thiruvananthapuram fare was Rs 1250-1400 it hiked to Rs 1500-1820. Till Kochi the fare was increased from Rs 1200-1300 to Rs 1450-1800.

The bus operators hiked the fares as the road tax to be paid was made mandatory for vehicles registered in states other than Tamil Nadu to enter Kerala from November 1.