CHENNAI: Senior citizens across the city rue that ever since the bus fares were revised they have been facing issues with free bus pass. Numerous conductors are not accepting the free tokens, citing ‘revenue’ issues, they rue. “I was travelling in a bus from Adyar to T Nagar recently when the conductor told me that he could not accept the senior citizen token as he did not have stock of ticket issued in respect of the coupons. When I asked him as to what I should do, the conductor, without winking an eyelid told me that I should get down and take the next bus or buy a ticket,” said Jayaram Sivaram from the T Nagar Resident Welfare Association.
Numerous senior citizens said they were embarrassed numerous times after the fare revision when the conductors ruthlessly asked them to get off the buses if they do not want to buy a ticket and many a time, they were traveling without money because of free tokens. MTC officials say they are not aware of the issue and they would sensitise conductors on the topic. The Tamil Nadu government on February 2016 launched a free bus ride scheme for senior citizens in MTC buses. This was one of late chief minister J.Jayalalithaa’s signature schemes.
