Passengers rue ‘missing’ facility on CTU’s AC buses

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 4

While the UT Transport Department is contemplating to decrease the fare of AC buses, passengers travelling by these Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) buses complain that the heating and ventilation system in the low-floor buses do not work.

Not only the low-floor buses, commuters travelling by newly-acquired midi buses also complain that buses do not have the heating system and provides only air-conditioning. Even in the low-floor long buses, the heating system is not being regularly operated during the winters.

Despite instructions from the Secretary, Transport, the AC fare was being charged from the passengers while the facility is missing.

Meanwhile, officials in the UT Transport Department revealed that the fare of the AC buses on local routes would be lowered by Rs 5 in the coming days.

Citing fall in revenue due to underuse of AC buses, the department has sought reduction in the fare and the fee of the concessional bus passes.

However, there would be no change in the fare of non-AC buses.

In September last year, the CTU had increased the fares by 40 per cent. The hike came after a gap of over 10 years.

Against the existing fares of Rs 15 (up to 3 km), Rs 20 (up to 10 km) and Rs 25 (above 10 km), the CTU has now proposed fare of Rs 10, Rs 15 and Rs 20, respectively.

The undertaking has also proposed to reduce the fee of monthly passes for different categories by 20 per cent.