The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has collected almost Rs 17 lakh as fine for ticketless travel in three months from around 11,000 commuters. In other words, one ticketless commuter is caught and made to pay fine around every 12 minutes in an MTC bus.
According to a press release from its Managing Director, the MTC levies a penalty of Rs 500 for travelling without a ticket or the necessary concession passes. “The MTC has collected Rs 6,00,850 from 3,915 commuters in May, Rs 5,24,100 from 3,658 commuters in June and Rs 5,55,900 from 3,218 commuters in July as penalty for ticketless travel,” the press statement said.
The total number of commuters fined for ticketless travel by the MTC from May to July is 10,791 and the total fine amount collected from them stands at Rs 16,80,850.
The MTC operates around 3,300 services on a weekday and employs more than 21,000 people. Recently, MTC had criticised the Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) for operating feeder services to its stations across Chennai, claiming that it was eating into MTC’s revenues. The CMRL started operating feeder services to its stations at a flat rate of Rs 10, which can be used by CMRL users to get to the station and back to predetermined drop-off points near the stations.
In a letter to CMRL, the MTC reportedly stated that vehicles like autorickshaws, share autos and maxi cabs are meant for private transportation and using these vehicles for transporting members of the general public was against the law.
The MTC added 235 new buses to its fleet a few weeks ago when the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Edappadi K Palaniswami, flagged off new buses for various state-run transport undertakings. The first electric bus in Chennai was also flagged off by the CM earlier in August; this bus is being operated on the A1 route between Chennai Central and Tiruvanmiyur.