CHENNAI: From Sunday, Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) became compulsory in all Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses, but there were instances of conductors ditching the machines, claiming they were unreliable.
ETMs were first launched in 2008 by the then DMK government and five years later, the subsequent AIADMK regime brought in the Global Position System (GPS) based ETMs. But on account of poor maintenance, coupled with problems in its battery, these handheld machines were not preferred.
Earlier this month, PWC Davidar, Additional Chief Secretary of Transport department, announced that all MTC buses will have ETMs from August 20. When Express contacted them, several conductors claimed they were being forced to use ETMs. “These are the same machines that developed problems earlier. The management is only refurbishing these machines,” said a conductor from Ambattur Estate depot. He wished to remain anonymous.
Another from KK Nagar depot said, “There are problems with the keypad as well as display. Furthermore, it takes several seconds to issue tickets. In the same time, I could have issued several tickets manually.”
MTC unions said even though the management tried to issue ETMs for all 33 depots, some of the newly-opened ones did not get the machines. K Natarajan of the DMK Labour Progressive Federation said, “MKB Nagar, Padayanallur and Kundrathur depots, which have limited buses, have not got ETMs. Moreover, these machines do not have protective covers and no spare machines are available.”
K Anbazhagan, joint secretary, Nethaji Transport Union, raised another concern. “There is uncertainty over issuing tickets for passengers who board in between two different stages, say at an unscheduled stop like signals,” he said.
Last month, there was an enquiry held at MTC headquarters after a conductor, identified as Murugan, was pulled up for issuing a ticket through an ETM for the wrong stage. “The machine does not allow for the previous stage (based on kilometres) to be re-opened,” he said.