Regional transport authorities have booked 31 government and private buses in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts on Thursday for collecting excess fare from commuters. The buses were caught during a vehicle check that was conducted by transport officials. The vehicles included 26 buses plying within Coimbatore city.
Eleven buses including six government buses were reportedly caught collecting excess fare between Gandhipuram to Coimbatore Railway Junction stop. Regional Transport Officer (Coimbatore Central) S. Munusamy said that the buses illegally collected Rs. 4 between the two stops while they were supposed to collect only Rs. 3.
Transport department personnel said that a notice was served on private bus operators and Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation authorities seeking explanation for the fleecing and penalty will be imposed based on their explanation.
During the surprise check the transport officials checked a total of 1,891 vehicles in the two districts. Notices were served and Rs. 1.41 lakh was collected as fine. The vehicles included 75 overloaded and over speeding vehicles, and 49 autorickshaws for various violations.
