No monthly passes, MTC users lose reimbursement
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:
Hundreds of regular Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus users from the city's western suburbs are losing out on their monthly travel reimbursements from their respective firms because of an inordinate delay by MTC authorities in issuing or renewing monthly seasonal tickets at authorised depots. Long queues were spotted in many MTC depots to get these thousand rupee passes on Monday and Tuesday.
The week started with confusion at Avadi depot, the only sales counter available in the western suburbs after Porur, as passes were unavailable till late in the evening. The thousand rupee monthly pass became an indispensable option for regular MTC users after the transport corporation discontinued distribution of daily concessional passes worth ₹50 due to security reasons.
Rates of monthly passes were unaltered even when the government bus fares were increased by up to 50% in January. As per official data, although MTC's regular footfall dropped significantly, sales of monthly passes increased from 50,000 to 79,000 after fare revision. MTC earned more than three crore rupees by selling these passes. However, authorities did not bother to ensure that the passes were made available to passengers on time.
MTC authorities at Avadi depot have repeatedly delayed the distribution process, said T Sadagopan, a consumer rights activist. This has forced many office-goers to forgo their monthly travel reimbursements as most private firms expect their employees to submit travel bills in the first week, he added. Responding to this, an MTC official said that Avadi depot is running short of passes and attributed the delay to time taken in bringing the printed copies from Porur depot.
People queuing for MTC monthly passes
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:
Hundreds of regular Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus users from the city's western suburbs are losing out on their monthly travel reimbursements from their respective firms because of an inordinate delay by MTC authorities in issuing or renewing monthly seasonal tickets at authorised depots. Long queues were spotted in many MTC depots to get these thousand rupee passes on Monday and Tuesday.
The week started with confusion at Avadi depot, the only sales counter available in the western suburbs after Porur, as passes were unavailable till late in the evening. The thousand rupee monthly pass became an indispensable option for regular MTC users after the transport corporation discontinued distribution of daily concessional passes worth ₹50 due to security reasons.
Rates of monthly passes were unaltered even when the government bus fares were increased by up to 50% in January. As per official data, although MTC's regular footfall dropped significantly, sales of monthly passes increased from 50,000 to 79,000 after fare revision. MTC earned more than three crore rupees by selling these passes. However, authorities did not bother to ensure that the passes were made available to passengers on time.
MTC authorities at Avadi depot have repeatedly delayed the distribution process, said T Sadagopan, a consumer rights activist. This has forced many office-goers to forgo their monthly travel reimbursements as most private firms expect their employees to submit travel bills in the first week, he added. Responding to this, an MTC official said that Avadi depot is running short of passes and attributed the delay to time taken in bringing the printed copies from Porur depot.
People queuing for MTC monthly passes
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