Tamil Nadu omnibus operators allege bribery and permit delays

Omnibus operators in Tamil Nadu have appealed to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay regarding significant delays in permit issuances and allegations of bribery at border check posts. A Anbalagan, president of the All Omni Bus Owners' Association, stated that approximately 300 permit applications have been pending for over a month, leading to financial losses for operators, passenger inconvenience, and reduced tax revenue for the state.

The association reported that officials at 22 border check posts are allegedly demanding bribes ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 3,000 per vehicle. While a new online system recently cleared 270 permits, many operators remain unable to operate despite paying quarterly road taxes of approximately Rs 1.5 lakh per bus.

To address congestion caused by inadequate parking and boarding space, the association proposed a multi-hub model. This plan suggests utilizing both the Kilambakkam and the underutilized Koyambedu CMDA bus terminus to manage the nearly 1,200 buses operating daily through the Chennai region.