After Warning, 19 Private Buses in Salem Booked for Overcharging Passengers

Despite repeated warnings from the district administration, private buses in Salem district have continued to collect excess fares from passengers. In a series of inspections carried out over the past week, transport officials have registered cases against 19 private buses for overcharging.

The issue came to light in the first week of July when private buses, without any prior announcement or government approval, began collecting higher fares on several routes. The Salem and Namakkal district administrations had explicitly warned that strict action would be taken against operators found violating fare regulations. However, the practice persisted, prompting complaints from commuters.

Acting on these complaints, Salem District Collector K. Elambahavath directed the Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) to conduct surprise checks in private buses. Following these instructions, RTO Thiyagarajan, along with motor vehicle inspectors Senthil, Kulothunkan and Pushpa, carried out inspections across areas under the jurisdiction of Salem East, Vazhapadi and Attur. The checks were conducted over a week, and as of Tuesday morning, 19 private buses were booked for collecting excess fares.

The transport officials noted specific instances of overcharging. For instance, on the Salem to Attur route, where the approved fare is ₹36, passengers were charged ₹40. Similarly, on the Salem to Vazhapadi route, the prescribed fare is ₹21, but passengers had to pay ₹25. On the Salem to Karipatti route, the fare was hiked from ₹12 to ₹16. Officials checked passengers' tickets at bus stops and seized them as evidence.

The final decision on action against the offending bus operators will be taken by the District Collector. According to officials, the penalties could range from fines to suspension of permits. The move is intended to send a clear message that fare violations will not be tolerated.

Passengers have welcomed the enforcement drive but have called for sustained monitoring. A resident of Ammapet, G. Anand, urged the government to take stern action against operators who continue to exploit commuters. He noted that such overcharging places an unfair burden on daily travellers, many of whom rely on private buses for their regular commute.

This incident highlights the broader issue of fare regulation in the state's transport sector. While private operators are allowed to set fares within the framework prescribed by the government, any deviation without proper approval is illegal. The district administration's proactive response serves as a reminder that passenger rights must be safeguarded.

Officials have also indicated that more checks are planned in the coming weeks to ensure compliance. They have urged passengers to report any instance of overcharging to the transport department, providing ticket details and bus information to facilitate action.

The development comes as Tamil Nadu continues to strengthen its public transport oversight mechanisms. Regular audits and surprise inspections are being conducted across districts to curb malpractices. The Salem case is expected to set a precedent for similar enforcement actions elsewhere in the state.