Hyderabad: Transport department officials booked five private travel buses after detecting fare hikes during the Sankranti festive rush in Hyderabad.
Officials said private travel took advantage of high passenger demand and sharply increased ticket prices. After receiving complaints, transport teams conducted raids in the Rajendranagar area.
During the inspections, officials found that operators collected excess amounts from passengers. Based on these findings, officials registered cases against five buses. Teams continued inspections at multiple locations.
Private travels face action for festive overcharging
Transport officials checked buses travelling from Hyderabad to Kerala, Bengaluru, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and Andhra Pradesh. They examined ticket fares, travel records, and passenger details on each route.
Officials said private travel routinely hikes fares during festivals such as Sankranti and Dasara. In many cases, operators collect ₹100 to ₹200 more than the approved rates. Sometimes, the excess amount goes even higher.
Officials said passengers making sudden or emergency journeys face severe hardship. They warned that enforcement drives would continue and promised strict action against private travel that violates fare rules.