SETC mulls flexi-fares; prices may drop by 25%
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:19.07.2018
Fares on State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) buses may soon be reduced by 25% to 30% during the weekdays.
“The corporation has sent a proposal to the state transport department in connection with the flexifare model and we are expecting the necessary order to be issued soon,” a senior official from SETC told TOI on condition of anonymity.
At present, SETC charges ₹2 for every kilometre in their A/C buses. Once the flexi-fare model is in place, it will be reduced to 1.70 paise per km.
For example, once this system is introduced, travel to Madurai in an SETC bus from Chennai would cost ₹975 during weekends, festivals and ₹830 to ₹840 on weekdays when the occupancy ratio reduces significantly.
Similar fare slabs have been proposed for various categories of SETC buses.
Despite operating 1,180 buses on long routes, the corporation’s revenue has been crumbling in recent years. The bus fare hike in January was a major blow as it made travelling in an SETC bus more expensive than in a private bus on weekdays.
On the other hand, by reducing fares on weekdays private omni buses attract more passengers.
“Unlike private operators, we are not allowed to alter fares as per market demand. Though our buses run full on weekends and festivals because pricing by private buses, there is a dip during weekdays as the same fare is collected by SETC then,” the official said.
Under the proposed model, passengers would pay much less than what omni buses charge on weekdays and regular fares would be collected on weekends and festivals, he added.
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:19.07.2018
Fares on State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) buses may soon be reduced by 25% to 30% during the weekdays.
“The corporation has sent a proposal to the state transport department in connection with the flexifare model and we are expecting the necessary order to be issued soon,” a senior official from SETC told TOI on condition of anonymity.
At present, SETC charges ₹2 for every kilometre in their A/C buses. Once the flexi-fare model is in place, it will be reduced to 1.70 paise per km.
For example, once this system is introduced, travel to Madurai in an SETC bus from Chennai would cost ₹975 during weekends, festivals and ₹830 to ₹840 on weekdays when the occupancy ratio reduces significantly.
Similar fare slabs have been proposed for various categories of SETC buses.
Despite operating 1,180 buses on long routes, the corporation’s revenue has been crumbling in recent years. The bus fare hike in January was a major blow as it made travelling in an SETC bus more expensive than in a private bus on weekdays.
On the other hand, by reducing fares on weekdays private omni buses attract more passengers.
“Unlike private operators, we are not allowed to alter fares as per market demand. Though our buses run full on weekends and festivals because pricing by private buses, there is a dip during weekdays as the same fare is collected by SETC then,” the official said.
Under the proposed model, passengers would pay much less than what omni buses charge on weekdays and regular fares would be collected on weekends and festivals, he added.
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