No review of bus fare hike in Tamil Nadu: Minister

In town buses the fare has been hiked from a minimum of Rs. 3 to Rs. 5 and the maximum from Rs. 12 to Rs. 19.

Amid protests against bus fare hike, Tamil Nadu Transport Minister outrightly rejected possibility for review of bus fare hike in the state. The state government has hikes bus fares after a gap of six years.

On possibility for review of bus fare hike, MR Vijayabhaskar, Tamil Nadu Transport Minister, said, " 'No chance of that." He was addressing a press conference in Karur.

'No chance of that': MR Vijayabhaskar, Tamil Nadu Transport Minister in Karur when asked if there is a possibilitly for review of bus fare hike in the state and if it will be brought down pic.twitter.com/8v5F2wx5kP

— ANI (@ANI) January 20, 2018

DMK Working President MK Stalin, said, "Bringing a testing time for poor and marginalized people of the state, increase in bus fare by the present AIADMK govt has come as a big shock. I urge this horse-traded & 'commission agent' govt to immediately roll it back."

Meanwhile, passengers protest at Coimbatore's Ukkadam Bus Terminus against a hike in bus fares.

After over six years, Tamil Nadu government has hiked the fares of buses under State-run transport corporations and private entities approximately by 20 to 54.54 per cent, saying it was inevitable. Significantly, the government also announced a fund for accident compensation and prevention, besides a panel to go into the restructuring of bus fares in future.

While the minimum hike is in the ordinary category, where the fare of Rs. 5 for 10 km would now be Rs. 6 (20 per cent hike), the highest is in Volvo buses, where the fare of Rs. 33 for 30 km will now go up to Rs. 51 (54.54 per cent hike).

In town buses, the fare has been hiked from a minimum of Rs. 3 to Rs. 5 and the maximum from Rs. 12 to Rs. 19.

(With agency inputs)