Chennai, Nov 11:
The Tamil Nadu Transport Department booked 1,826 omni buses and levied compounding fines totaling Rs 26.27 lakh for charging exorbitant fares and flouting permit conditions during the Deepavali travel rush.
Enforcement squads comprising regional transport officers (RTOs) and motor vehicle inspectors operated across more than 70 transit corridors, conducting intensive inspections along major toll plazas and boarding hubs in Chennai, Madurai, and Coimbatore. Department officials stated that while most operators complied with prescribed fares, errant operators faced stern penal action for overcharging festive passengers and breaching mandatory safety norms.
In addition to the compounding penalties, the department impounded 17 omni buses operating without valid permits or statutory fitness documentation and recovered Rs 70.81 lakh in unpaid road taxes from defaulting operators.