The Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has temporarily revoked the proposal seeking identity proof from commuters purchasing daily travel ticket. The move comes in the wake of commuters raising objections against the MTC’s circular demanding identity proof from commuters buying daily travel tickets priced Rs. 50.
A senior official of the MTC said the transport body would revisit the proposal after getting feedback from commuters. He said the move to demand identity proof was aimed at curbing ‘misuse’ of the daily travel ticket, which was valid from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
MTC had issued the circular without any notice to the conductors to check the identity proof of commuters while selling daily travel ticket.
‘Anti-commuter policy’
The proposal, launched on Sunday, caught the conductors unawares with passengers getting into arguments with them.
T. Sadagopan, a consumer activist from Pattabhiram, termed the MTC’s new rule as anti-commuter. It would cause friction between conductors and commuters.
Various trade unions of the MTC have come out against the proposal and said it was impractical.
More burden for conductors
An office-bearer of CITU MTC branch said daily travel tickets were issued by the conductors who were already burdened with several other tasks and this measure would only add to their pressure. Citing the time constraints faced by conductors during peak hours, he slammed the MTC management for its lack of foresight and for not seeking any feedback from trade unions before introducing such measures.
He pointed out that passengers purchasing long-distance train tickets had to prove their identity only during their journey and not at the purchase point.
Various trade unions of the MTC have come out against the proposal and said it was impractical
