Smart card delay: MTC to allow students travel without bus passes

The transport agency is currently involved in developing smart cards for the beneficiaries, according to a circular. This year, the distribution of the passes was delayed owing to the government’s decision to introduce new smart cards with the additional safety features. A total of 3.10 lakh students affiliated to 1,791 educational institutions draw this benefit annually. According to the officials, nearly 1.50 lakh students have received the bus passes so far.

The lag in distribution created a constant confusion between the students’ community and MTC conductors regularly.

A resident of Porur, K Anbazhagan, said, “The MTC is delaying the distribution of bus passes to the students. But, conductors are insisting upon them to purchase tickets. I registered a complaint with the MTC authorities when my college-going son reported this incident to me last month. Finally, the authorities have woken up to the situation.”

The official note has directed the MTC conductors to permit the uniformed school students and college-goers with the institution’s identity card to travel for free in the buses.

This will be in effect till the rest of the beneficiaries are assigned with the free bus passes. Sources said that the new smart cards are likely to be distributed from the next academic year. An official said, “The process of preparing smart cards is currently underway.”