Free bus passes remain elusive for school students
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:1.11.2019
Six months have passed since schools reopened this academic year, but the state government is yet to issue free bus passes to students. This has put students in a quandary, with there being several instances of them being harassed by ticketchecking squads.
Earlier this year, a video got circulated on social media where a ticket-checking squad was seen demanding fine from school students, who were then asked to get down from a Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus at Moolakadai. The students were returning home from school.
A disciplinary action was taken against the staff, sources said. However, such instances have become frequent, according to students, despite transport minister MR Vijayabaskar assuring that students can travel for free in government buses till free bus passes are distributed.
Students from government institutions across Tamil Nadu are exempted from paying tickets while 50% concession is given for those from private institutions.
Government sanctions ₹800 crore every year to state transport corporations, including MTC, towards reimbursement of concession money.
Since the government is planning to do away with paper-made passes and introduce smart cards, there is a delay in distributing them, sources said. Corporations were given the responsibility of verifying details of students and printing bus passes for all eligible candidates.
Till today, the passes are yet to be printed. MTC has issued a circular to all conductors asking them to allow students wearing school uniforms and carrying valid ID cards to travel for free till the passes are ready. Conductors, on the other hand, claim that many miscreants tend to misuse the exemption given to students.
“Many old students simply wear their old uniforms and travel for free. None of them get down at bus stops near schools and only alight near cinema theatres and the beach,” said Prabhu, an MTC conductor on the 102 route (Broadway-Kelambakkam).
Government school students across TN are exempted from tickets while 50% concession is given for those from private schools
TIMES NEWS NETWORK
Chennai:1.11.2019
Six months have passed since schools reopened this academic year, but the state government is yet to issue free bus passes to students. This has put students in a quandary, with there being several instances of them being harassed by ticketchecking squads.
Earlier this year, a video got circulated on social media where a ticket-checking squad was seen demanding fine from school students, who were then asked to get down from a Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus at Moolakadai. The students were returning home from school.
A disciplinary action was taken against the staff, sources said. However, such instances have become frequent, according to students, despite transport minister MR Vijayabaskar assuring that students can travel for free in government buses till free bus passes are distributed.
Students from government institutions across Tamil Nadu are exempted from paying tickets while 50% concession is given for those from private institutions.
Government sanctions ₹800 crore every year to state transport corporations, including MTC, towards reimbursement of concession money.
Since the government is planning to do away with paper-made passes and introduce smart cards, there is a delay in distributing them, sources said. Corporations were given the responsibility of verifying details of students and printing bus passes for all eligible candidates.
Till today, the passes are yet to be printed. MTC has issued a circular to all conductors asking them to allow students wearing school uniforms and carrying valid ID cards to travel for free till the passes are ready. Conductors, on the other hand, claim that many miscreants tend to misuse the exemption given to students.
“Many old students simply wear their old uniforms and travel for free. None of them get down at bus stops near schools and only alight near cinema theatres and the beach,” said Prabhu, an MTC conductor on the 102 route (Broadway-Kelambakkam).
Government school students across TN are exempted from tickets while 50% concession is given for those from private schools
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