MTC collects Rs 16L fine from ticketless travellers

According to a statement from MTC Managing Director K Ganesan, 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 a penalty for ticketless travel,” the 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.

“Travelling without a valid ticket or pass in the MTC bus is an offence under the Motor Vehicles Act. It causes financial losses to the MTC,” added the statement. The corporation had recently warned of severe action against those misusing free bus pass issued to the government college and the technical institute students by impersonation or through forgery. An official release said that it conducted inspections at various places following reports that the free passes issued to the students attending government college and technical training colleges were being misused.

In one such inspection at Red Hills terminus on August 20 on route no 592 (Vallalar-Periyapallayam), the ticket checkers found that one V Selvakumar of Kannigaiper Panchayat was misusing the bus pass issued to a college student. “On inquiry, it was found out that Selvakumar forged the bus pass issued to one Lingeshwaran of Kannigaiper by taking a colour photocopy and pasting his photo over it. Such forged bus passes were sold by a photo studio and a photocopy shop. Periyapallayam police have filed an FIR in this regard based on the complaint of the MTC,” the release said, adding that over 200 persons were found to be using expired or forged buses during a mass checking on August 28.