Two destination boards on MTC buses cause confusion

Sources said that MTC had already been operating unfit deluxe buses as Ordinary services to earn revenue.

However, the officials started using two-colour destination boards particularly in the unfit deluxe buses and passengers are confused whether those buses are deluxe, LSS (Limited Stop Service) or Express.

A bus conductor revealed that the higher-ups in the department have instructed them to implement the system.

“Each MTC bus has at least two destination boards LED board (Deluxe) and the green board and we keep changing them in accordance with the patronage after reaching the depots,” the conductor said. Asked about the passengers’ inconvenience, he quipped, “they should get on the buses after checking on the fare with the conductor or any of the passengers inside the bus.”

“I was waiting to catch a bus from Egmore to Poonamallee.

Then I noticed a deluxe bus (no:53A), which had both digital LED board and green in the same number and it confused me. To clear my confusion, I asked the conductor, whether this was deluxe bus or Express bus (green board). However, the conductor yelled at me saying that this was not a time to answer your question,” said A Moorthy, a worker from Poonamallee. However, the bus conductor later collected fare of Rs 17 saying that it was a deluxe bus, he added.

When contacted, a senior official, MTC, said that they had not received any complaint regarding this. “I will instruct all the branch managers of MTC depots to look into the matter and stern action will be taken against staff indulging in any practice to collect more fare,” the official warned.