TN Govt says no fare cut but a change in bus services

The Tamil Nadu government hurled a bouquet of surprise to bus commuters on Thursday by reducing the bus fares by up to 50 percent and after coming under Election Commission’s scanner called it as the result of change in pattern of the transport services instead of fare cuts.

The state government said the recent reduction in bus fares is not actually a fare cut but it occurred owing to change in pattern of the transport services.

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State Transport Minister K N Nehru said the change in pattern of services was a routine process. Taking into consideration of the public demand the special services such as limited stop and deluxe were changed to ordinary status, he said.

Government’s clarification came on Friday, a day after state chief electoral officer Naresh Gupta informed the Election Commission that the fare reduction was a case of violation of model code of conduct.

On Thursday, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) reduced fares of limited stop, express, deluxe and ‘M’ service buses to a minimum of Rs 2, bringing down at par with ordinary services. In Madurai and Tiruchi too, the minimum fare in low-floor buses was brought down from Rs 5 to Rs 2.

Ironically, the fare revision was made for the first time in eight years against the government’s contention that the change in pattern of services was a routine pattern.