Despite appeals from District Collector C. Kamaraj and the TNSTC (Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation) authorities not to paste posters on the newly introduced low-floor buses in the city, some DMK political party functionaries seem to have ignored the call.
Posters – big and small – were pasted on many new buses plying on different stretches in the city on Sunday.
Senior officials in the State Transport Corporation said that the paint is expensive that during the process of removing the posters at the maintenance section, the colour of the paint starts fading and gets washed away leaving patches.
Any attempt to tinker or provide a touch up would change the appearance of the bus body. The original finish of the colour cannot be matched locally and within a year, the buses look quite old and shabby, they added.
Another technician said that the solution used to paste the posters would not come off without using sufficient water. Every day posters such as condoning death of a friend or relative, welcoming leaders visiting to inaugurate hotels, shops or restaurants, condemning the government by some organisations were pasted on the buses. Using water and soap solutions to remove them would change the colour. “In many vehicles, the new look had already started giving a dull appearance,” he added.
At a recent press conference, Mr. Kamaraj appealed to the public to use the TNSTC buses and not misuse by pasting posters or pelting stones. Prior to this, the TNSTC authorities also pointed out the features of the buses and urged the public to cooperate in upkeep of the vehicles in a press release.
When contacted, a DMK office-bearer, not wishing to be quoted, said that Union Minister M.K. Alagiri does not endorse or encourage such acts. “Some cadres bring disrepute to the party,” he admitted. Consumer forum representatives condemned those (political parties or other outfits) pasting posters or pelting stones on the TNSTC buses.
When the government spent so much money on launch of state-of-the-art buses, such misuse should not be encouraged and they expected the Collector to take stern action as per the law.
