Omni Bus Ticket Fares Surge Ahead of Pongal Holidays, Passengers Face Hardship
As thousands of people prepare to travel to their hometowns for the Pongal festival holidays, omni bus operators have sharply increased ticket fares, causing severe inconvenience to passengers.
This year, Pongal is celebrated on January 15, 16, and 17, with the government declaring holidays for all three days. Since January 18 falls on a Sunday, people are enjoying a continuous four-day holiday, leading to heavy travel demand from Chennai and other major cities across Tamil Nadu.
Early Travel Rush and Fare Hike
To avoid last-minute crowding, many passengers began travelling from the night of January 9 itself. Taking advantage of the surge in demand, private omni bus operators have increased ticket prices multiple times, a trend seen every festive season.
Chennai to Major Cities: Revised Ticket Fares
Chennai - Coimbatore
Usual fare: ₹1,200
Current fare: ₹3,000 to ₹3,800
Chennai - Madurai
Usual fare: ₹800 to ₹1,100
Current fare: ₹2,800 to ₹4,000
Chennai - Tirunelveli
Usual fare: ₹800 to ₹1,500
Current fare: ₹2,800 to ₹4,500
Chennai - Nagercoil: Up to ₹4,200
Chennai - Tiruchirappalli: Up to ₹3,000
Similar steep fare hikes have been reported for several other destinations as well.
Public Demand for Government Intervention
Passengers have expressed strong displeasure over the unchecked fare hike, stating that festival travel has become unaffordable for many families.
Although the government has earlier warned that strict action would be taken against omni buses charging excessive fares, and has also announced a toll-free complaint number, inspections, and monitoring measures, passengers say these steps have not yielded effective results.
The public has urged the government to take immediate and concrete action to regulate omni bus fares during festival seasons and ensure fair pricing for travellers.
