Chennai: In a move that will help passengers identify the minimum fare of ordinary buses ( Rs 5) operated by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), officials have pasted stickers on the windshields of ordinary buses, specifying the ticket charges.
According to MTC, ever since the transport department hiked its fares earlier this year, passengers were totally confused by the bus fares. Worse still, they were not able to distinguish between ordinary and express services.
“We received a volley of complaints from passengers over categorization of buses like express, ordinary and deluxe buses, and their related fares. Hence, to help commuters, we have decided to paste stickers detailing the ticket charges on the buses,” said an official, adding that such a move would pave the way for commuters to easily distinguish between ordinary and express bus services.
Claiming that about 60,000 commuters, who opted to travel by various other modes of transport after the fare hike, have now again started travelling by MTC buses. The hike in fuel prices and its cascading effect in other modes of transport like cabs and auto rickshaws, could also be one main reason for this change, added the official. Hence, to cash in on this latest trend, the MTC has come out with its latest plan of displaying ticket prices on buses.
Meanwhile, commuters and activists have welcomed the MTC's move. “It is true that most buses have two destination boards in the front, and we find it difficult to identify whether it is an ordinary or express service. But now, the stickers would speak,” said a commuter.
Programme manager, Chennai City Connect, Daniel Robinson, welcomed the move. “Displaying fares in any kind of transport mode will be helpful for passengers. Moreover, since MTC buses play a key role in transporting lakhs of passengers a day, such display of fares is quite necessary,” he pointed out.
When contacted by Deccan Chronicle, MTC Managing Director, Anbu Abraham, said that one cannot travel in autos and call taxis for five rupees as minimum fare. “Such stickers will attract more commuters, and we are hopeful of increasing revenue in MTC services,” he noted.
