Date:08/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/08/stories/2006010814340300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Poor patronage hits omnibus operators

Sandhya Soman

Passenger occupancy rate has gone down to 30 per cent from 70 per cent in the last one year

Registered operators: 60

Daily services from Koyambedu: 220

WORRIES FOR OPERATORS: Rising fuel prices and maintenance charges add to the burden of private bus service providers in the city. — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI: They take a bus only in case of an emergency. Omnibuses are their last resort only when they do not get train tickets, say operators.

"Out of 220 services from Koyambedu, only 170 operate on a daily basis. The passenger occupancy rate has gone down to 30 per cent from 70 per cent in the last one year," says D. Maran, treasurer of Tamil Nadu Omnibus Owners' Association. Rains led to mass cancellations in the last two months.

At the Koyambedu contract carriage bus terminus, nearly 10 buses idle. Some smaller operators have vacated their shops unable to pay a monthly rent of Rs. 15,000 to the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority.

A major operator has stopped operating empty buses to Hyderabad via Tirupati. It still operates its services to Tiruchi, though there were only two passengers in the Volvo bus.

It is not just lack of patronage that is worrying operators such as C.S. Shanmugha Sundaram of Sangeetha Travels. Diesel prices and maintenance charges have gone up making it difficult to stay in the field, says Mr. Sundaram.

"The Government has also raised the tax to Rs. 3,000 per seat for 90 days. We have obtained a stay and are paying Rs. 2,000 per quarter," says Mr. Maran.

All these have contributed to a rise in the bus fare that was already on the higher side compared to train fares. If a second class train ticket to Tiruchi costs around Rs. 130, it is Rs. 270 to 280 for a seat in a non-AC omnibus.

"Even this is a loss because of the operational cost," says S. Prabhu of Rathimeena Travels.

The operators say they are now looking forward to Pongal. "All the bookings that are happening now are for just three days — January 10-12. After that, it will be the same scene," says Mr. Prabhu.

At the terminus, touts are openly peddling tickets to Madurai for Rs. 290, whereas established operators charge Rs. 330. According to Mr. Maran, the touts will hike the rates as Pongal approaches and persuade passengers to get in ramshackle vehicles parked outside.