Private bus operators cash in on Onam rush

Bengaluru: The holiday passenger rush from Bengaluru to Kerala in the run-up to Onam has come as a bonanza for private bus operators out to make a quick buck by jacking up their fares.

Almost all private operators have tweaked the fare structure for the so-called ‘special services’. The prevailing tense situation in Karnataka due to the Cauvery water dispute has also added to the woes of the Kerala-bound holiday crowd. 

As the situation continues to remain volatile in the Mysore and Mandya regions, both the Kerala and Karnataka road transport corporations have decided not to ply more additional buses during this festival season. 

Cashing in on the rush, private bus operators have hiked their fare by about 50 per cent. It is alleged that they have violated the norms under the Flexible Fare system, which allows them to increase fare by only up to 15 per cent during peak seasons. 

Although the Kerala and Karnataka RTCs have made arrangements for operating nine and twenty-one special buses respectively to clear the holiday rush, the tickets were sold out within hours. 

Now the Bengaluru-based Malayalis have no option but to shell out more and travel home in private vehicles operating on special permits.