Theni-Bodi Bus Ticket: TNSTC collects Rs 15 instead of Rs 11.
Though the district consumer disputes redressal commission issued an order in April 2026 against the collection of excess fare, TNSTC continues to charge the old fare on the route, stating that buses are operated under the ‘express’ category. Activist A Ramakrishnan had raised the complaint in 2024 and approached the commission. In April, it directed TNSTC Madurai to pay Rs16,004 to him for deficiency in service.
Madurai: For the past few years, unsuspecting commuters travelling between Theni and Bodi on Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC), Madurai, have been silently filling the corporation’s coffers by paying Rs4 more than the prescribed fare, with an activist pegging the excess collection at around Rs1 crore a year.
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The complaint relates to TNSTC Madurai charging Rs15 per passenger for the 16.5km journey between Theni and Bodi, against what Ramakrishnan says is the prescribed fare of Rs11. The entire distance between Theni bus stand and Bodi is only 16.5km, he said.
Officials at the Theni branch, however, said the buses were operated under the “express” category and not as “ordinary” services. He said an express service should have a minimum distance of 25km between two stops. “Calling a service that stops at every stop an express or limited-stop service and charging a higher fare is a violation,” he said.
The transport official concerned, who had allegedly not responded to the petition for about a year, appeared at the meeting. When the petitioners and collectorate officials questioned her over the delay, she left the venue without giving a reply. TNSTC Madurai managing director V Saravanan declined to comment on the issue. Ramakrishnan disputed the explanation.
The issue surfaced again at the district collector’s grievance meeting on Monday.