Chennai, Oct 15 TNSTC inspected 1,222 omni buses across the state during a special enforcement drive ahead of the Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadasami holidays, issuing check reports and e-challans to 207 vehicles for various violations.
Four omni buses were impounded for overcharging passengers and other regulatory violations during the drive conducted from the evening of October 15 to the morning of October 16, a press release said on Friday.
Compounding fees totalling Rs 4,18,700 were levied on the vehicles, of which Rs 68,500 was collected on the spot, the release added.
The enforcement drive followed complaints from passengers about exorbitant fares charged by private operators ahead of the consecutive holidays.
On the instructions of the state Transport Minister, dedicated teams comprising Regional Transport Officers (RTOs) and Motor Vehicle Inspectors (MVIs) were deployed across Tamil Nadu to conduct inspections.
The action followed a review meeting chaired by the Transport minister on October 13 at the Chennai Metro Rail Limited office in Nandanam.
Officials from state transport undertakings, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), Southern Railway, BSNL, the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) and associations of omni bus operators attended the meeting.
The meeting focused on arrangements for festive travel, measures to ease congestion in Chennai and curbing excessive fares charged by private operators.
The department warned omni bus operators that if they cancelled tickets booked online by passengers, they would have to provide alternative travel arrangements. Failure to do so would lead to cancellation of the bus permit, the release said.
The department said the special inspection drive would continue throughout the festive season to safeguard passengers’ interests.
Passengers facing overcharging or related issues can lodge complaints through the toll-free helpline 1800 425 6151 or by emailing tc.tn@nic.in, the release added.
(PTI News)
