Date:08/06/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/06/08/stories/2007060818950300.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

MTC begins issuing free bus passes to students

Staff Reporter

Laminated documents issued immediately

FREE PASSES: Students of Corporation School at Koyambedu being photographed on Thursday. — Photo: K. Pichumani

CHENNAI : The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) on Thursday began issuing free bus passes for students of government-recognised schools for this academic year.

The private agency entrusted with the contract to issue the computerised passes, started its project with two Corporation school in Koyambedu and Nungambakkam. Two separate teams went to the schools with digital cameras, computers and printers. The students were photographed and the laminated bus passes were issued immediately.

MTC officials said others schools had been intimated about the date and time when the team would be visiting the school for issue of passes.

During a meeting held at the MTC headquarters earlier this month, representatives of government-recognised school in Chennai and some parts of Thiruvallur and Kanchipuram educational districts were asked to submit their applications. The free bus pass scheme covers students of classes One through Plus-two in all government-recognised schools. Last year, the Corporation gave away 2.38 lakh passes for students of 1,509 schools. That number is expected to go up this year, given that the radius of coverage of MTC buses has gone up to 50 km from 40 km.