Fifteen omnibus operators have been served notices for overcharging over the past two days.
This is part of a drive by the transport department and the Tamil Nadu Omnibus Operators Association to ensure commuters are not fleeced during Deepavali season.
On Saturday, transport minister Senthil Balaji visited CMBT to inspect the arrangements.
The checking is conducted in a number of locations, including the Koyambedu Omnibus Terminal, Chengalpattu toll gate, Sri Perambudur toll gate and Karanodai.
“On Thursday, our teams also identified close to a dozen buses that had not paid their taxes,” said a transport official.
The teams formed by the omnibus owners will ensure passengers who were overcharged are refunded by the operators, said D. Maran, treasurer of the association.
Fewer passengers this yearThough various transport corporations, including the Metropolitan Transport Corporation, State Express Transport Corporation and the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, have increased the number of services in view of the holiday rush, omnibus operators claim most of their buses are running empty.
A. Arumugam from R.S.R Travels said, “Usually before Deepavali, there are a number of additional bookings, with people going home for the holidays. This year, however, the number of bookings is fewer,” he said.
In case of overcharging, passengers can contact the transport department’s helpline: 044-24794709.
