Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol Thirumavalavan has expressed his surprise that the State Road Transport Corporation in the State incurred ‘huge losses’ forcing the Govt. to announce 60% increase in bus fares across the State.

“This (bus fare hike) has severely affected the poor and the lower-middle class; it is time for the Govt. to act before the people erupt in protest,” Thiruma warned while speaking at a protest meeting against the bus-fare hike organized yesterday by VCK in Chennai. “I condemn the increase in bus fare in strict terms,” he thundered.

“It is not acceptable that the fares been revised/increased only after six years. Though the fares might still be less compared to other States/UTs, it is still not acceptable as poor and lower-middle classes of the society have been hit hard by the steep increase in fares in buses on all routes.  It is surprising that the SRTC with its vast fleet of buses incurs losses when tourist operators with a handful of vehicles earn profits.

“This only shows the administrative incapability of the Govt. which should waste no time in rectifying the anomalies pointed out by the CAG. It would be better for the Govt. to act before the students’ protests explode as people’s protest,” Thiruma said and added that VCK cadres would hold demonstrations and meetings all over the State on 24th January (today) to protest against the hike in bus fares.