Date:07/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/07/stories/2008070750370100.htm

Front Page

TNSTC awaits Rs. 15-cr. dues

L. Srikrishna

MADURAI: The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (Madurai division) is awaiting release of over Rs. 15 crore from the State government.

Madurai division comprises Madurai, Tirunelveli, Nagercoil, Dindigul and Virudhunagar units with about 24,500 employees. The government issues free bus passes to school students and physically challenged persons.

Though many transport corporations in the State received their share from the government, there is an undue delay in release of dues to Madurai division, according to Tamil Nadu State Transport Federation State treasurer S. Sampath. Following dues to the Madurai division, he said, were pending for about two years leading to a financial crunch: Free bus passes issued to students for which the government had not released the dues of Rs. 4 crore; police personnel travelling in State-owned buses produced warrants instead of buying tickets, which accounted for over Rs. 85 lakh; the government had not reimbursed Rs. 14 crore towards free passes issued to the physically challenged.

Last year, the government announced that it would collect only 50 per cent fare from students appearing for professional examinations, towards which Rs. 8 lakh was pending from the government, he said. The government should release the dues, Centre of Indian Trade Unions general secretary V.Pitchai said. A TNSTC official said the problems arose only after Tirunelveli and Nagercoil divisions were amalgamated with Madurai.