The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : It's back to queues for pass-holders

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Friday, Oct 27, 2006
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

It's back to queues for pass-holders

Staff Reporter

eSeva centres stop accepting RTC bus pass renewal applications

REGULAR ORDEAL: RTC commuters standing in queue to get their bus pass renewed at Koti bus pass centre. — Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

HYDERABAD: Bus pass-holders, especially students and physically challenged persons, are having a tough time renewing their passes, ever since the eSeva centres stopped accepting applications for renewal three weeks ago.

People standing in serpentine queues are a regular sight at major bus pass centres like Rathifile, Dilsukhnagar, Mehdipatnam and Koti. The city region of the APSRTC runs 22 bus pass centres.

Delays in renewing passes, lack of coordination among bus pass centres and non-availability of application forms at the centres are grievances that most commuters express.

This is despite the corporation outsourcing the process to Gemini Communications Private Limited.

"I was supposed to get my renewal by October 14. It is almost two weeks now but the authorities have not done it. They ask me to check with Rathefile bus pass centre (where all the applications are segregated) though I submitted the application form at Koti Bus pass centre," says K. Kiranmayee, studuing in Koti Women's College.

Poor print quality

"It is difficult standing for nearly four hours in queue just to extend our pass and at times we are forced to skip our classes as they extend it for only two days," says P. Rammohan, of Quli Qutub Shah Polytechnic, Bahadurpura.

Officials say the delay is inevitable, as the application details have to be co-related with the colleges and data available with the corporation. "Most receipts issued by eSeva centres are of poor print quality. Either receipt numbers go missing or the candidate's name is printed wrong. These add to the delay," says M. Sunil, Manager of Gemini Communications at Koti bus pass centre.

City Regional Manager C. Pandu Ranga Murthy said things would be sorted out soon as 10 more bus pass centres are to be set-up this month to offer better services.

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