In one incident, more than 50 passengers were stranded on a Chennai-bound bus on Friday night until police intervened. Madurai : From stopping buses midway to allegedly withholding online tickets, private omni bus operators are facing scrutiny over tactics used to counter Tamil Nadu ’s crackdown on excessive fares.
Transport officials said they were investigating the incident. Thachanallur police rushed to the spot and warned the driver against leaving passengers stranded at night and directed him to complete the journey. The bus subsequently departed.
During the Vijayadasami holidays in September, fares on the Madurai–Coimbatore route reportedly jumped from Rs700 to Rs1,500 following such cancellations. Following an October 29 meeting with operators and online booking platforms, the transport department announced special enforcement teams across 12 regions. Earlier, inspections of 4,233 buses during October 15–17 found violations involving 778 vehicles.
Authorities have also warned operators that cancelling confirmed tickets without arranging alternative transport could result in permit cancellation.
“Operators have previously cancelled lower-priced bookings, citing mechanical faults, only to charge higher fares for fresh reservations,” a senior transport department official said. “We suspect the same tactic is being used now and are scrutinising the operators involved,” the official said. The latest tactics come amid intensified enforcement against overcharging.