Tamil Nadu chief-minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has stated that the Govt. was forced to announce a 60% hike in fares in buses operated by the State Road Transport Corporations across the State as it was faced with no other alternative.

“We have made the hike in bus fares with a heavy heart for sure,” the chief-minister said while taking part in the 101st birthday celebrations of former chief-minister and AIADMK’s founder-president MGR at T. Nagar in Chennai.

Tamil Nadu Govt. announced late last week a 60% hike in bus fares in MTC buses in Chennai as well as in all State Road Transport Corporation-run buses.  Opposition parties including the DMK, the Congress and the Communists have strongly opposed the hike and have announced that they would be holding separate protests to urge the State Govt. to call off the hike which has already taken effect.

Citing hike in fuel prices, cost of increase in salaries of Transport staff and the cost of maintaining vehicles, the Govt. of Tamil Nadu said it was increasing the bus-fares. Deputy chief-minister O. Panneerselvam said that the hike notwithstanding, Tamil Nadu still had a minimum fare in all sectors as compared to other States.

Taking part at a function in T. Nagar, the chief-minister justified the hike in bus fares stating that some drastic measures were needed to ensure that State Road Transport Corporation started earning profits instead of incurring losses.

“It is a Corporation for the people and its flaws ought to be rectified by the people.  We, therefore, decided to raise the fares only with a heavy heart and I appeal to people to take it in their stride and cooperate fully with the Government,” he concluded.