Stories
TN Private Bus Operators Announce 24-Hour Strike Demanding Fare Hike, Opposing Free Travel Scheme
N
News18•28-09-2026, 23:00
TN Private Bus Operators Announce 24-Hour Strike Demanding Fare Hike, Opposing Free Travel Scheme
- •Private bus operators in Tamil Nadu, excluding Chennai, Madurai, Nagercoil, and Udhagamandalam, will observe a 24-hour token strike from midnight on September 29.
- •The strike demands a revision of passenger fares, which have not changed since 2018, and opposes the expansion of the state government’s free travel scheme for women.
- •Around 7,000 private buses operate in the state, facing significant losses due to increased diesel and spare parts costs; diesel prices have risen from Rs 64 to over Rs 100 per litre since the last fare revision.
- •Operators claim a 65% operating loss and state that the sector will become unviable without fare revisions, despite a Madras High Court directive for public and operator views on fare changes.
- •The federation objects to the free travel scheme expansion, arguing that private operators are excluded from government subsidies provided to state transport undertakings and demand subsidies for private buses as well.
Key Questions Answered
Private bus operators across Tamil Nadu are holding a 24-hour token strike starting September 29 midnight to demand a passenger fare revision, which has not changed since 2018. They are also protesting against the state government's upcoming expansion of the free travel scheme for women without providing subsidies or compensation to private operators.
Passenger fares were last revised in 2018 when diesel was priced at Rs 64 per litre. Since diesel costs have risen to over Rs 100 per litre, operators state they are facing mounting financial losses of around 65 percent.
The 24-hour token strike by private bus operators excludes Chennai, Madurai, Nagercoil, and Udhagamandalam.
