There is frustration among passengers as it has become a cumbersome exercise to book a train or bus ticket during festivals. Though the railways have thrown open online reservation for 120 days, tickets for the coming Pongal break are already fully booked!
So, the demand for private bus services is going up and the operators are seeing an opportunity to make more money. Some of the private bus operators have increased fares two or three folds for the holiday season.
Interestingly, while the private buses are fully booked, the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) is not and there are tickets easily available.
There is a reason for this. The SETC’s official booking website www.tnstc.inis not user friendly.
The website offers a range of buses for the commuters, such as air-conditioned, deluxe, ultra deluxe and semi sleeper, and the price is highly competitive too. But the problem lies with the payment options online.
Of the 12 banks through which the payment can be made, names of some of the leading nationalised and private sector banks do not find a place, be it for payment by card or online banking.
Also, commuters booking online can only board from the SETC Bus Stand at Gandhipuram and no where else in the city.
Private bus operators on the other hand provide the commuters an option to choose from at least half a dozen boarding points on the way. SETC’s online booking needs to be made a lot more commuter- friendly, say frequent travellers.
M.K. Ananth
