CHENNAI: Private bus operators are cashing in on the long Navarathri weekend by jacking up prices for trips to other parts of Tamil Nadu from Chennai.Those travelling to Madurai and Coimbatore from Chennai paid Rs1,500-Rs2,000 on an average for a ticket on a private air-conditioned sleeper bus, double the fare on staterun buses.Despite warnings from transport minister MR Vijayabaskar, private operators have raised fares by up to 150% in some cases. And transport department authorities have done nothing about it.V Senthil, a passenger waiting at Koyembedu for a bus to Tirunelvei said, “Usually private buses charge Rs800-Rs900. But today they are demanding Rs1,800 or more and we are forced to pay as we have no other option.”Private bus operations argued that there was nothing illegal about what they were doing as the law doesn't restrict them from collecting any amount for a ride.One of the operators from Chennai, requesting anonymity, said, “Motor Vehicle Act, 1989, allows us to collect X amount for dropping a passenger from point A to point B. Nowhere is there a provision in this Act to collect the same fare throughout the year.”Though more than 2,700 government State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) buses are operated from Koyambedu to other parts of the state, 90 % got filled through online booking this festive season.“To handle the extra rush, 770 special buses will be operated to Madurai, Coimbatore, Trichy and Salem for the next four days. Of them, 300-odd buses will cross Trichy and 75 will travel via Madurai,” said a senior SETC official.

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