Forced to buy paper rolls for ticketing: MTC conductors
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:23.02.2019
MTC bus conductors have alleged that they are forced to spend from their own pockets to buy paper rolls for electronic ticketing machines (ETMs). While conductors claimed they were provided with only one roll a week, branch managers said rolls were distributed on a daily basis.
ETMs were introduced in 2014 as part of the modernization process. Though supply of ETMs to all buses was completed in 2017, complaints often came in about their functioning. Some resorted to manual ticketing. Against this backdrop, allegations are levelled against depot branch managers for not supplying adequate number of paper rolls.
Official data showed, 150 tickets can be printed using a roll. On an average, conductors issue 300 tickets to 500 tickets a day. A conductor at Avadi, requesting anonymity, said, “Our manager issues one roll and we run out of paper after two trips. So, I spend ₹40 daily to buy rolls from a private shop near Avadi railway station.” A roll costs ₹20 – ₹25 depending on the size.
The manager instructed conductors to use manually printed tickets if enough rolls were not available, he added. “Unlike earlier years, MTC routes are extended now and a single trip involves 25 stages and holding them in hand has become increasingly difficult in crowded buses.”
Responding to it, Avadi branch manager Sekar said there was no shortage.
M V Ramamurthy of Nethaji Transport Workers Union said the condition was no different in the other 33 MTC depots which are equipped with 400 ETMs each. “MTC has stopped paying the paper roll suppliers,” he alleged. MTC was unavailable for comment.
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:23.02.2019
MTC bus conductors have alleged that they are forced to spend from their own pockets to buy paper rolls for electronic ticketing machines (ETMs). While conductors claimed they were provided with only one roll a week, branch managers said rolls were distributed on a daily basis.
ETMs were introduced in 2014 as part of the modernization process. Though supply of ETMs to all buses was completed in 2017, complaints often came in about their functioning. Some resorted to manual ticketing. Against this backdrop, allegations are levelled against depot branch managers for not supplying adequate number of paper rolls.
Official data showed, 150 tickets can be printed using a roll. On an average, conductors issue 300 tickets to 500 tickets a day. A conductor at Avadi, requesting anonymity, said, “Our manager issues one roll and we run out of paper after two trips. So, I spend ₹40 daily to buy rolls from a private shop near Avadi railway station.” A roll costs ₹20 – ₹25 depending on the size.
The manager instructed conductors to use manually printed tickets if enough rolls were not available, he added. “Unlike earlier years, MTC routes are extended now and a single trip involves 25 stages and holding them in hand has become increasingly difficult in crowded buses.”
Responding to it, Avadi branch manager Sekar said there was no shortage.
M V Ramamurthy of Nethaji Transport Workers Union said the condition was no different in the other 33 MTC depots which are equipped with 400 ETMs each. “MTC has stopped paying the paper roll suppliers,” he alleged. MTC was unavailable for comment.
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