MTC runs small buses as regular services
Move Leaves Commuters Confused
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:29.11.2019
Amid the increasing demand for small buses in Chennai, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has silently converted some of them into regular services. This unannounced conversion has created confusion among commuters.
Based on complaints from passengers, TOI did a reality check at Mandaveli depot. Small buses were operated along regular route 21 (connecting Broadway with Mandaveli) as express services.
MTC has permits only to operate conventional town buses with 48 seats along this route. According to rule 248 of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, vehicles owned by state transport corporations including MTC should be operated only along routes approved by the transport authority and any violation attracts ₹2,500 fine. More than 1,500 government buses have been booked for this offence in the past.
“It was very uncomfortable to travel in a small bus till Broadway as they are designed only for short trips. It was very difficult to get down or even move inside when it gets crowded,” said Prabhakar, a commuter from Mandaveli.
In response, an MTC official said this was done only twice a day to help government employees working at the state secretariat to travel easily between their residences and workplace. But the reality check was done around 2.30pm on Thursday which was no way close to offices’ closing or opening hours. “By default, all small buses were operated as express services. Moreover, it will be a loss to operate small buses along regular routes since the seating capacity is less,” the official added.
But when asked about fares, a conductor said it would cost ₹12 to travel to Broadway from Mandaveli and hid the route board under the driver’s seat soon after this reporter left the spot. The fare for ordinary services is just ₹9.
On an average, 120 services are operated along this route from Mandaveli depot on a daily basis carrying around 5,000 commuters.
Besides this, small and regular MTC buses are diverted to neighbouring districts during festivals and special occasions. Though they are eventually brought back to Chennai, passengers suffer in the meanwhile. Patronage will take a beating if services are irregular, say experts.
Corroborating this, official data says daily patronage recorded per small bus dropped from 625 in 2017 to 565 now.
Of the 200 small buses launched in Chennai in 2013 to improve last mile connectivity, more than 180 are operated regularly and rest could not be due to high absenteeism rate among drivers, say officials.
A small bus, to be operated on route 21, at Mandaveli depo
Move Leaves Commuters Confused
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:29.11.2019
Amid the increasing demand for small buses in Chennai, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has silently converted some of them into regular services. This unannounced conversion has created confusion among commuters.
Based on complaints from passengers, TOI did a reality check at Mandaveli depot. Small buses were operated along regular route 21 (connecting Broadway with Mandaveli) as express services.
MTC has permits only to operate conventional town buses with 48 seats along this route. According to rule 248 of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, vehicles owned by state transport corporations including MTC should be operated only along routes approved by the transport authority and any violation attracts ₹2,500 fine. More than 1,500 government buses have been booked for this offence in the past.
“It was very uncomfortable to travel in a small bus till Broadway as they are designed only for short trips. It was very difficult to get down or even move inside when it gets crowded,” said Prabhakar, a commuter from Mandaveli.
In response, an MTC official said this was done only twice a day to help government employees working at the state secretariat to travel easily between their residences and workplace. But the reality check was done around 2.30pm on Thursday which was no way close to offices’ closing or opening hours. “By default, all small buses were operated as express services. Moreover, it will be a loss to operate small buses along regular routes since the seating capacity is less,” the official added.
But when asked about fares, a conductor said it would cost ₹12 to travel to Broadway from Mandaveli and hid the route board under the driver’s seat soon after this reporter left the spot. The fare for ordinary services is just ₹9.
On an average, 120 services are operated along this route from Mandaveli depot on a daily basis carrying around 5,000 commuters.
Besides this, small and regular MTC buses are diverted to neighbouring districts during festivals and special occasions. Though they are eventually brought back to Chennai, passengers suffer in the meanwhile. Patronage will take a beating if services are irregular, say experts.
Corroborating this, official data says daily patronage recorded per small bus dropped from 625 in 2017 to 565 now.
Of the 200 small buses launched in Chennai in 2013 to improve last mile connectivity, more than 180 are operated regularly and rest could not be due to high absenteeism rate among drivers, say officials.
A small bus, to be operated on route 21, at Mandaveli depo
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