Fare Fleecing Continues as ₹100 Fine Fails to Deter Private Buses in Chennai
Despite repeated assurances from the Tamil Nadu transport department, the rampant overcharging by private bus operators remains unchecked, leaving passengers helpless. A year ago, the department promised the Madras High Court that the penalty for such violations would be raised to ₹15,000, yet the fine still stands at a paltry ₹100. With private bus operators raking in over ₹30,000 per trip, even on weekdays, the minuscule fine serves as no deterrent. Shockingly, government-run buses have also been implicated in similar fare gouging, collecting excess fares with impunity. Transport activist K. Kathirmathiyon, who petitioned the court, highlighted that the authorities have failed to crack down on state transport corporations, allowing them to continue overcharging commuters without fear of consequences.
The court proceedings last year exposed deeper inefficiencies in fare regulation. The transport department claimed that regional transport officers (RTOs) and motor vehicle inspectors were directed to intensify fare checks. Additionally, it assured that the proposed fine increase to ₹15,000 would be implemented to curb the menace. However, the court remained sceptical. Then Chief Justice Sanjay V. Gangapurwala remarked that mere compounding fees would not deter habitual violators, stressing the need for stringent action against repeat offenders. The ground reality remains unchanged—government and private buses continue to exploit passengers, charging ₹3 extra per commuter in city buses and up to ₹5,000 for long-distance routes like Chennai to Coimbatore.
From a civic perspective, this unchecked fare exploitation erodes public trust in the transport system and highlights the inefficiency of regulatory enforcement. Unlike in states such as Maharashtra and Karnataka, where transport violations are met with hefty fines and immediate suspensions, Tamil Nadu’s lax penalty structure emboldens offenders. Without adequate monitoring, operators take advantage of peak travel periods, particularly during festival seasons, leaving passengers with no alternative but to pay exorbitant rates. The absence of digital fare tracking systems and passenger grievance redressal mechanisms further exacerbates the issue, making fare regulation nearly impossible.
Sustainability concerns also arise from the failure to regulate public and private transport fare systems effectively. Overcharging discourages people from using buses, pushing them towards private vehicles, which increases road congestion and pollution. A well-regulated, affordable public transport system encourages mass transit usage, reducing carbon emissions and improving urban mobility. Tamil Nadu’s transport authorities must address these gaps by enforcing stricter penalties, implementing digital ticketing systems, and increasing real-time fare monitoring to build a reliable, transparent, and sustainable public transport network. Until then, commuters will continue to suffer at the hands of an unchecked fare exploitation system.
