Date:02/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/02/stories/2008110252870300.htm

Tamil Nadu

Students’ free bus pass: reimbursement sought

Staff Reporter

Transport Department wants State Government’s approval

FACILITY: Ministers Thangam Thennarasu, K.N. Nehru, and K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran flagging off the new bus services in Virudhunagar on Saturday.

VIRUDHUNAGAR: The Transport Department has sought the State Government’s approval to provide full reimbursement for free bus passes issued to students by Madurai Division of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC).

Addressing a meeting here after flagging of 85 new buses on Saturday, Transport Minister, K.N. Nehru, said that the State Government was giving 100 per cent reimbursement only for the transport corporation in Chennai, whereas other regional corporations were getting up to 56 per cent reimbursement.

Mr. Nehru said that Madurai regional TNSTC was the biggest corporation in the State and it was incurring huge loss as it operated more number of city/town buses. The corporation was not able to pay certain benefits, including pension, to its employees as it faced Rs.200-crore loss.

In spite of that the Transport Department had inducted 1,000 new vehicles only because the Chief Minister, M. Karunanidhi, allotted Government funds. Despite the diesel price doubling over a period, the department had inducted 8,000 new buses in the last three years without increasing the fare.

“Bus fare in the State is the lowest in the country,” he said. The department had introduced bus services in 1,200 new routes and extended services in 2,000 routes.

The Chief Minister had instructed his department to carry students with free bus passes in all city/town buses, he said.

Mr. Nehru lauded the services of his staff and crew who operated special buses for Deepavali without availing themselves of festival leave. “We earned an additional Rs. 12 crore during October 2008 as against the revenue generated during the same period last year,” he said.

Along with Mr. Nehru, the Ministers, K.K.S.S.R. Ramachandran, and Thangam Thennarasu, flagged off the new bus services. Buses were introduced in 24 new routes.

Mr. Ramachandran said that all the buses passing through Virudhunagar would touch both the old and new bus stands in the town for the benefit of residents. Mr. Thennarasu urged Mr. Nehru to instruct the bus crew to accommodate students with free bus pass in all town buses. The Collector, V. Chandrasekaran, and the Municipal Chairperson, Karthik Karikolraj, also participated in the meeting.