SETC bus types run from the ultra deluxe seater to the AC sleeper, and every fare starts from a per-kilometre rate: 100 paise a km for ultra deluxe and 130 paise for AC coaches under the last published revision, with sleepers on weekday and weekend rates of 135 to 200 paise. SETC runs no ordinary buses; those belong to the regional TNSTC corporations.
The numbers
The State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) is the long-distance arm of Tamil Nadu’s government bus network. It runs the overnight services from Chennai to district headquarters across the state and to Bengaluru, Kerala, Puducherry and Tirupati, while the regional TNSTC corporations run the shorter mofussil and town routes. Both sell seats on the same portal, tnstc.in.
The class you pick decides the per-km rate, the seat and whether you can lie down. Here is what each class offers, how the fare is built, and the luggage and concession rules on SETC’s own pages.
SETC bus types, class by class
SETC’s Types of Services page lists seven kinds of bus: AC sleeper, AC sleeper-seater, non-AC sleeper, air-conditioned seater, deluxe, ultra deluxe with toilet, and ultra deluxe. Its fleet table (undated) counts 1,124 buses, 623 of them ultra deluxe seaters. The home page also advertises a newer Volvo multi-axle AC semi-sleeper, described as a first for Tamil Nadu.
| Class | What you get | Fare basis (paise per km) | Buses in fleet table |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultra deluxe | Non-AC reclining seater, the standard overnight bus | 100 | 623 |
| Ultra deluxe with toilet (Classic) | Non-AC seater with an on-board toilet | 105 weekdays, 115 weekends | 59 |
| AC seater | Air-conditioned seater | 130 | 100 |
| AC multi-axle (Volvo) | AC semi-sleeper on a multi-axle chassis | 170 (AC Volvo rate) | Not listed separately |
| Non-AC seater-cum-sleeper | Mix of seats and berths, no AC | Sleeper rates apply to berths | 100 |
| AC seater-cum-sleeper | Mix of seats and berths with AC | Sleeper rates apply to berths | 206 |
| Non-AC sleeper | Berths only, no AC | 135 weekdays, 155 weekends | 2 |
| AC sleeper | Berths only, with AC | 180 weekdays, 200 weekends | 34 |
Source: TN STUs fare structure, last revised 29.01.2018, and SETC flexi fares; SETC fleet table. Weekdays here means Monday to Thursday; weekends Friday to Sunday.
Ordinary and express: the tier below SETC
People often search for an SETC “ordinary” bus, but the fleet table has none. Ordinary, express and super deluxe buses are run by the regional corporations (Villupuram, Salem, Coimbatore, Kumbakonam, Madurai and Tirunelveli), and the state’s fare table sets them at 58, 75 and 85 paise a km. They stop at more towns and suit shorter hops.
Ultra deluxe seaters make up more than half of the 1,124 buses in SETC’s published fleet table; true sleepers number only 36.
How the per-km rate becomes your ticket price
The per-km rate gives the basic fare. The ticket then adds a reservation fee and other charges, which the rules page says are never refunded on cancellation. That is why a published fare rarely equals distance times rate. SETC’s own AC seater list shows, for example, an adult fare of Rs 597 from Chennai to Madurai and Rs 663 to Coimbatore, and its AC sleeper list shows Rs 920 to Madurai. The sleeper and Classic classes carry flexi rates, so a Friday or Sunday berth costs more than the same berth on a Tuesday.
The fare table on tnstc.in records 29 January 2018 as the last revision. Fares can be revised by government order, so treat the per-km figures as the basis and the booking screen as the final word.
It’s often said that SETC fares rise and fall every day like private app prices.
The record shows Most SETC classes have one fixed per-km rate. Only the Classic and sleeper classes have a two-step weekday and weekend rate, set out in the SETC flexi fare table. There is no demand-based pricing on the official portal.
Luggage, children and concessions
Luggage. Neither the rules page nor the FAQs on tnstc.in publish a free allowance in kilograms. SETC’s RTI handbook mentions that a luggage fare is collected, without rates. Keep to personal bags; bulky goods can be charged, so ask for a receipt.
Children. Under the passenger rules, children aged 5 to under 12 pay half fare, but a child taller than 130 cm pays full fare. Carry original age proof for a small-looking 11-year-old. A child cannot be booked alone.
Concessions. They apply to the basic fare only, not the reservation fee. Seats for differently-abled passengers need the original certificate plus a copy handed to the conductor; without the copy, the rules say you pay full fare and a Rs 500 penalty. The state’s concession list gives a 10% discount for groups of 10 or more on SETC, and notes that free student travel applies on all government buses except SETC. The booking form has a “Single Lady” search option for women travelling alone.
Choosing a class for a long night trip
For trips under about six hours, an ultra deluxe seater is the sensible buy. On a ten-hour run, the AC sleeper costs 80% more per km than ultra deluxe on weekdays, and more at weekends. Need a toilet on board? Look for the Classic tag.
What this means for you
- Check the class tag on the booking screen: ultra deluxe, Classic, AC seater and sleeper each carry a different per-km rate.
- Travel Monday to Thursday in a sleeper or Classic bus to pay the lower flexi rate.
- Carry the original ID named on an e-ticket, and age proof for a child near the 130 cm line.
- Send complaints about an SETC trip to the WhatsApp number 9445014448 listed on tnstc.in.
Quick answers
What are the SETC bus types?
SETC lists AC sleeper, AC sleeper-seater, non-AC sleeper, AC seater, deluxe, ultra deluxe with toilet (Classic) and ultra deluxe, plus a newer Volvo multi-axle AC semi-sleeper. Ultra deluxe seaters are the majority of the fleet.
What is the SETC fare per km?
The last published table sets ultra deluxe at 100 paise a km and AC coaches at 130 paise. Sleepers are on flexi rates: AC sleeper 180 paise on weekdays and 200 on weekends, non-AC sleeper 135 and 155.
Does SETC run ordinary buses?
No. Ordinary (58 paise a km) and express (75 paise) buses are run by the regional TNSTC corporations, not SETC.
Do children pay full fare on SETC buses?
Children aged 5 to under 12 pay half fare unless they are taller than 130 cm, when full fare applies.
What to watch
Pending: fare revision
Private stage-carriage operators, who say fares have not been revised since 2018, deferred a strike on 29 September 2026 after ministers assured them their demands would be considered, DT Next reported. Any revision would come by government order.
Pending: more multi-axle routes
SETC says its Volvo multi-axle AC semi-sleepers started on major routes in a first phase. Watch the portal’s home page for routes added in later phases.
Checked against official sources on 31 October 2026. Timings and fares change; confirm on the operator’s booking site before you travel.
Sources
- History of SETC, fleet and depot tables (SETC, tnstc.in)
- Tamil Nadu State Transport Undertakings: fare structure and concessions (tnstc.in)
- Rules and Regulations for passengers (TNSTC/SETC, tnstc.in)
- Types of Services (TNSTC/SETC, tnstc.in)
- Air Condition Buses Services list (SETC, tnstc.in)
- AC Sleeper Buses Services list (SETC, tnstc.in)
- TNSTC online reservation home page and helplines (tnstc.in)
- Tamil Nadu private bus operators defer one-day strike after government assurance (DT Next, 29 September 2026)
