Ayudha Pooja Holiday: Omni Bus Fares Rise Up to ₹4,999

With a four day holiday for Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami, many people from Chennai are making advance bookings on omni buses to travel to their hometowns. However, passengers are facing significantly higher fares on several routes during the holiday period.

The fare for travel from Chennai to Kodaikanal has reportedly reached ₹4,999, while tickets from Chennai to Ooty are priced at up to ₹3,500. On routes to southern districts such as Nagercoil, Kanyakumari, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, fares have also crossed ₹3,000.

Fares on routes from Chennai to Madurai, Tiruchirappalli, Coimbatore, Tiruppur, Kovilpatti and Virudhunagar have reportedly increased to around ₹3,000.

Heavy Advance Bookings During the Holiday

A large number of passengers are booking tickets to travel from Chennai to various destinations on October 16 and 17, while return bookings to Chennai are high for October 20 and 21 after the holidays.

According to booking details, fares for return journeys on some routes have also reached around ₹3,200. Passengers have said that fares which normally range between ₹1,200 and ₹1,500 on these routes have increased to more than ₹3,500 during the holiday period.

A passenger who tried to book a ticket to Ooty said they had expected to get a lower fare by booking in advance but were surprised by the sharp increase. After finding fares of around ₹1,200 to ₹1,800 on some dates following Ayudha Pooja, the passenger said they changed their travel date.

Complaints about higher omni bus fares during festival and extended holiday periods have been raised several times in the past. The Transport Department has also taken action against buses following complaints of excess fare collection.

Transport Department to Check Fare Complaints

In a September 2026 advisory issued by the omni bus owners` association, operators were requested to collect fares without exceeding the maximum fare limits accepted by the government during festivals and consecutive holidays.

Meanwhile, transport officials have said that the current complaints regarding high fares will be examined and action will be taken if violations are confirmed.

Passengers have requested the government to monitor omni bus booking fares during the extended holiday period and take immediate action against operators that charge fares beyond the prescribed limits.

Omni Bus Owners` Association Responds

Anbalagan, State President of the All Omni Bus Owners Association, said that the maximum fares for omni buses were fixed in 2024 and that operators should collect fares according to those limits.

He said that some operators charging higher fares could create a negative impression of the entire omni bus sector. He also stated that operators s have been instructed that action would be taken against those who collect fares above the prescribed limits.