Private bus owners in Salem urge government to increase ticket fare
Private bus owners in Salem, India, are demanding a significant fare increase due to rising fuel, maintenance, and insurance costs. They argue that government-subsidized free travel for women has negatively impacted their profitability and are seeking similar subsidies.
Why it matters
This highlights the economic tension between private transport operators and public welfare schemes in developing economies.
The Salem District Private Bus Owners’ Association urged the State government to increase the ticket fare of private buses.
Recently, the private buses owners in the district increased the ticket prices without prior announcements, which drew severe criticism from the public.
On Monday (July 13, 2026) the association secretary, Raveendran, stated that, in 2018, the price of one litre of diesel was ₹64, and in 2026 it costs over ₹100. The prices of tyres, spare parts, insurance premiums, and toll charges have also increased, causing difficulty for bus owners to run their businesses. He noted that earlier, there were over 300 private bus owners, now more than 60 have switched to other businesses.
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