Not wallet, fish out mobile to pay for bus ticket post lockdown

Ram Sundaram and Shanmugasundaram J TNN

Chennai:  08.05.2020

Government bus conductors have been told to avoid exchanges of currencies and opt for e-payment options like Google Pay, Paytm for issuing tickets after services resume.

An internal circular explaining standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed by all state-run transport corporations once lockdown was lifted has advised authorities to popularise monthly passes and day cards as an alternate to usage of currency notes, which might transmit virus.

This indicates that Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), Chennai might restart daily pass scheme, which was put on hold two years ago due to technical reasons.

Over 8 lakh people subscribed to seasonal passes when the scheme was active, says official data. This was almost one-fourth of MTC's total daily patronage. "So, it will be not a herculean task for MTC to expand this post-lockdown," said R Rengachari, a transportation activist.

A senior transport department official said, "We are working to migrate to the new mode of ticket selling methods and exploring the possibilities of using e-payment and mobile-based app ticket purchase options. It is in a primitive stage, but the corporation is trying its best to materialise it at the earliest".

The circular, issued by state transport secretary Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, has also barred entry of passengers, who don't cover their mouths with a cloth or mask. They can enter buses only through the back gate and exit through the front.

Conductors should act as 'crowd managers' at halts and inside the bus so that seat occupancy didn't exceed 50% at any point of time and distance between two standing passengers was at least 6 feet.

"This means only 5 to 6 people can stand inside a bus at a time. So, passengers who wait for long at bus stops will not listen and push us aside to get in. This will lead to more chaos," said A Arunagirinathan from Centre of Indian Trade Union, TNSTC Coimbatore.

As far as drivers were concerned, their cabin will be separated from the rest of the bus with the help of a transparent screen or curtain and they should ensure that buses were parked at 5-metres gap. "This was practically impossible in a crowded interchange point as it will need at least 100 feet," Arunagirinathan added.

The circular also mandates disinfection of buses, use of sanitisers and thermal screening of workers at the end of every trip.