Private bus passengers in parts of Tamil Nadu have alleged that operators are increasing ticket prices without prior notice after the launch of the state’s Vetri Payanam scheme, with fares on a route in Thanjavur district reportedly rising by ₹4.
According to a report by Dinamalar, passengers said private buses had increased fares by between ₹2 and ₹5 at several locations. The report linked the alleged increases to lower revenue following the introduction of free travel for women on suburban buses under the Vetri Payanam programme.
The scheme was launched on October 2 by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay. Under the programme, women were provided free travel on suburban buses. The report said private-bus and minibus owners had opposed the move, but withdrew planned protests and legal action after deciding that they could not afford to confront the government.
Passengers told Dinamalar that some operators were now attempting to offset the reported revenue decline through higher ticket prices. The allegations raise an immediate question for the state’s public transport administration: whether fares on privately operated services are being changed through the approved regulatory process or collected informally at the point of travel.
The report cited a specific example from Thanjavur district. On private buses travelling from Pattukkottai to the Old Bus Stand in Thanjavur, passengers said the fare had earlier been ₹31 but was now being collected at ₹35. They alleged that the increase was implemented suddenly and without any advance announcement.
For passengers, even a small increase has a direct effect on the cost of routine travel, particularly on routes where private buses provide an important connection between towns and district centres. The reported change also creates uncertainty for commuters who depend on fixed fares to plan daily journeys.
The dispute reflects the operational tension that can emerge when a public welfare measure changes the revenue conditions of privately operated transport services. While the government’s scheme expands free travel for women on covered services, private operators have raised concerns about the financial impact, according to the report. The passenger allegations indicate that the resulting pressure may be reaching ticket counters and onboard fare collection.
The supplied report does not include a response from the transport department, a fare order, or a statement from the private bus operators on the alleged increase. It also does not establish whether the revised Pattukkottai–Thanjavur fare has been formally approved. The reported fare change and the broader allegations therefore remain attributed to passengers cited by Dinamalar.
The next point of public interest is whether transport authorities will examine the complaints, clarify the permissible fares on the affected routes and require operators to display or announce any approved revision before collection. Until such clarification is issued, passengers may continue to face uncertainty over the amount payable on private buses operating in the affected areas.
