Following a decision to cut down on concessions not supported by the state, the BMTC has asked government employees seeking a concession bus pass to get a letter from their respective department.
In a press release, the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) on Tuesday, said there were 70 different concessional passes of which, all those funded by the government will be continued.
“The number of categories has been reduced from 70 to 26 after we introduced smart cards, aimed at simplifying the passing scheme. Some categories of the bus passes are not supported by the government funds, so we want the concerned departments to compensate for the same,” an official said.
Following media reports that concessional pass for government employees have been withdrawn, the BMTC clarified that it has only told them to bring a letter requesting for a pass from their respective departments.
The move to rationalise the concessional passes is part of the corporation’s efforts in cutting expenditure. The BMTC is sliding deeper into financial problems every year with the cumulative losses reaching Rs 608 crore in March 2018.
No student pass?
Use fee receipt
The BMTC has introduced a new system for issuing bus passes for students in primary/secondary/high school in which the management completes the formalities of the application process.
To avoid inconvenience to the students until they receive the pass, the BMTC has allowed them to travel in its buses by showing its fee receipt along with previous year’s pass.
First-time pass seekers can travel by showing the fee receipt along with the school/college identity card.