Coimbatore: Following complaints of bus conductors collecting full fare for children and threatening parents, the Deputy Transport Commissioner, Coimbatore Circle, K. Yogarajan, has instructed the Regional Transport Officers (RTO) to ensure that conductors followed the rules strictly.

As per the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Rules of 1939, children in the age group of 0-3 can travel free of cost and those in the age group of 3-12 are eligible for half fare.

This rule should be prominently displayed in buses and RTOs should check the buses when they were brought for fitness certificate, Mr. Yogarajan has said.

Citing cases wherein two private bus conductors on the Coimbatore-Tirupur sector and other mofussil services had charged full fare for children below the age of 12, the secretary of the Coimbatore Consumer Cause, K. Kathirmathiyon, had send a complaint to Mr. Yogarajan. In the complaint, he had said that there were cases wherein the conductors apologised and returned the fare pleading ignorance of the rule, when passengers contested. How could the conductors plead ignorance of rule as they had passed tests for obtaining a licence, he asked.

In the absence of age-proof, the height of the child should be measured with the help of a scale painted on the footboard of the bus. Any child with less than 130 cm of height should be allowed to travel at half-fare.

If bus crew insist on full fare, the passengers could write to the respective RTOs or the office of the DTC's on Dr. Balasundaram Road in Coimbatore with particulars of the vehicle, the date and time of travel, Mr.Yogarajan said.

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