Buses will be operated as usual: Omni bus owners association

In contrast to south sate omni bus association’s announcement, the Omni bus owners association on Tuesday announced that they will operate their buses as usual.
Lakhs of people had travelled to their native places due to Ayudha Pooja and Vijayadashami festivals. Most of them had booked government and private buses to travel to their destinations. Following the complaints that private buses had multi-folded the ticket price, transport officials had conducted surprise checks and seized 120 buses and slapped a penalty of Rs 37 lakh against 2,092 buses that increased the ticket price.
Demanding the government to immediately release the seized buses, the omni bus owners association had called for a strike. The operators claim that they have fixed the ticket fare in such a way that it will not affect the passengers, and had obtained permission from the transport department last September. They have submitted a petition to the Chief Minister MK Stalin, as well.
Maaran, the association secretary said, “We have 1,500 vehicles and the buses will be operated as usual. So, the public need not panic. All the vehicles that were seized by the transport department are outstation vehicles.”
However, the south state omni bus association announced that they will operate buses from 6 pm and will take the next course of action after discussing with the officials.  
Meanwhile transport minister Sivasankar said, “Steps will be taken to release buses if they were proved to be unguilty. Officials are checking the seized buses. Operators were already directed against operating outstation buses in the state. 
If the operators continue their strike, the government will operate additional buses.”