Private bus operators raise fares in Bangalore

As people scramble for holiday getaways, private tour operators are making a killing. Bus fares are going up every hour, including for non-AC vehicles.

“We have been waiting for over an hour to book tickets to any tourist destination. But travel agents are merciless. For a two-day-three-night package to Ooty and Nilgiris, they are charging as much as Rs6,500,” said Kaushik Lodia, an engineering student from Tumkur.

Private operators Vijayananda, National and Sharma travels are charging Rs1,700 to  Rs2,000 to destinations like Tirupathi, Hyderabad, Goa and Ernakulam.

Many operators do not ply air-conditioned buses to Ooty, Kodaikanal, Puducherry and Coonoor. However, they still charge Rs500 to Rs900 per passenger.

A source from Vijayananda Travels said the prices of tickets for Friday and Saturday nights was going up every hour. So passengers should book tickets immediately or end up paying more.

Vijayanand Travels charges `800 to Puducherry by non air-conditioned buses. A KSRTC Volvo to Pondy charges only `540 per passenger.

An agent for Greenline Travels said all buses to Tirupathi, Puducherry, Ooty, Kochi, Coorg, Kodaikanal and other destinations in Kerala, Goa or Tamil Nadu were already booked for Friday and Saturday.

Sunday booking was under way and charges were going up every hour, he added.

Tourist taxies are also in demand.“There is big demand for our luxury cabs and multi-utility vehicles from city-based IT professionals and NRIs who wish to travel out of the state. Most of them are moving to Kerala.

Others are opting for places like Madikeri and Coorg,” said Radhakrishna Holla, general secretary of Bangalore tourist taxi operation association.

Taxi fares within the state is Rs14 per kilometre while for interstate travel, drivers have to pay additional taxes which they will conveniently pass on to the passengers.