Kids suffer as concession rules on buses lack clarity
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
27.05.2019
Chennai: Rules for the concession on tickets for children below 12 years continue to be a grey area for both passengers and conductors in government buses.
Recently, disciplinary action was initiated against a conductor for collecting full fare from a 6-year-old child from Chennai.
According to the complainant, M Kasimayan from Ayappakam, he was travelling with his wife and child from Tirupati to Chennai on January 17. It was late in the evening and the bus stops were crowded because of the Pongal holidays. After much trouble, the family got into a TNSTC bus around 8.30pm.
The conductor, Gnanam, asked Kasimayan to buy three full tickets. Kasimayan refused to buy a full ticket for his son as he was eligible for a concession. However, the conductor made Kasimayan pay ₹480 for three tickets.
Following his complaint, TNSTC has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the bus conductor and has apologised to Kasimayan for the inconvenience caused.
Transport workers' unions have called this move harsh. Khadar Ibrahim from SDPI transport union said, “Ticket checkers penalize us if we do not adhere to the rules strictly.”
Transport corporations now insist that conductors check proof of age before giving fare concession, he added.
According to a recent official circular, conductors are told to check the child’s birth certificate if the parent claims a concession.
If proof of age is not produced, conductors can collect full fare even if the child is eligible for concession.
The circular reiterated conductors should not only consider the earlier yardstick — below130cm height — while giving a concession if they fail to provide a birth certificate as proof. Markings at the entrance of the bus and on the grille behind the driver’s seat allow conductors to check a passenger’s height Children between the age of three and 12 must be charged only half the fare in all government buses expect those which are operated as town or metropolitan services, according to TN motor vehicle rules. Passengers complain that conductors do not accept ID proof such as Aadhaar and ration card.
Consumer rights’ activist K Kathirmathiyon said that it is unfair to reject ID proof issued by various government agencies and it is impossible for all passengers to carry birth certificates .
Based on a complaint he made a few years ago, transport corporations made it mandatory for buses to display the rules inside buses. However, this is hardly being followed.
Disciplinary action was initiated against a TNSTC bus conductor recently for collecting full fare from a 6-year-old child from Chennai
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
27.05.2019
Chennai: Rules for the concession on tickets for children below 12 years continue to be a grey area for both passengers and conductors in government buses.
Recently, disciplinary action was initiated against a conductor for collecting full fare from a 6-year-old child from Chennai.
According to the complainant, M Kasimayan from Ayappakam, he was travelling with his wife and child from Tirupati to Chennai on January 17. It was late in the evening and the bus stops were crowded because of the Pongal holidays. After much trouble, the family got into a TNSTC bus around 8.30pm.
The conductor, Gnanam, asked Kasimayan to buy three full tickets. Kasimayan refused to buy a full ticket for his son as he was eligible for a concession. However, the conductor made Kasimayan pay ₹480 for three tickets.
Following his complaint, TNSTC has initiated disciplinary proceedings against the bus conductor and has apologised to Kasimayan for the inconvenience caused.
Transport workers' unions have called this move harsh. Khadar Ibrahim from SDPI transport union said, “Ticket checkers penalize us if we do not adhere to the rules strictly.”
Transport corporations now insist that conductors check proof of age before giving fare concession, he added.
According to a recent official circular, conductors are told to check the child’s birth certificate if the parent claims a concession.
If proof of age is not produced, conductors can collect full fare even if the child is eligible for concession.
The circular reiterated conductors should not only consider the earlier yardstick — below130cm height — while giving a concession if they fail to provide a birth certificate as proof. Markings at the entrance of the bus and on the grille behind the driver’s seat allow conductors to check a passenger’s height Children between the age of three and 12 must be charged only half the fare in all government buses expect those which are operated as town or metropolitan services, according to TN motor vehicle rules. Passengers complain that conductors do not accept ID proof such as Aadhaar and ration card.
Consumer rights’ activist K Kathirmathiyon said that it is unfair to reject ID proof issued by various government agencies and it is impossible for all passengers to carry birth certificates .
Based on a complaint he made a few years ago, transport corporations made it mandatory for buses to display the rules inside buses. However, this is hardly being followed.
Disciplinary action was initiated against a TNSTC bus conductor recently for collecting full fare from a 6-year-old child from Chennai
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