Winding routes mean spiralling rates on buses

CHENNAI: One metro’s gain is another metro’s loss. After the metro corridors on arterial roads caused a plethora of diversions, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) commuters are shelling out much more. Crew members of the State-owned Transport Corporation are demanding an additional `2 from passengers travelling through Poonamallee High Road and a few other routes.“I pay `2 more while travelling by buses on route 71, after boarding at Egmore,” a passenger claimed. “Apparently, conductors charge `1 more for white board services on the same 71 route. When I asked about this sudden fare revision, they claimed that the fare was jacked up as buses take long detours to reach the destination,” he added.When contacted, official sources at the MTC claimed that collection of excess fare began from January 14 this year. “With the diversions coming into force on Poonamallee High Road, MTC buses are covering an additional distance of 2 km, which is almost like an extra bus stage. That’s why we have asked conductors to collect the excess fare, calculated on the extra distance they travel,” the official clarified.Auto rickshaws too have hiked their tariff. According to Dinakaran, an auto rickshaw driver this reporter spoke to at Tirumangalam, the official tariff for commuting between Chennai Central and Anna Nagar is `30, which is a joke.  “Earlier, I charged anywhere between `100 and `120 for taking passengers from Central railway station to Tirumangalam Junction. I now charge much more, given the escalating fuel prices and multiple diversions,” he reasoned.