The Hindu : National : TNSTC to run more services to Kerala, Karnataka

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TNSTC to run more services to Kerala, Karnataka

Special Correspondent

Four integrated checkpoints planned on inter-State borders

Checkpoints on inter-State borders will be equipped with weigh bridges
Electronic hand-held ticketing devices will be introduced in 10,000 buses this year

— Photo: M. Moorthy

HANDY DEVICE: Transport Minister K.N. Nehru handing over an electronic hand-held ticketing device at a function in Tiruchi on Wednesday.

TIRUCHI: The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation will soon operate services on 519 additional routes to various destinations in Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry under inter-State agreements signed recently, Transport Minister K.N. Nehru said here on Wednesday.

The transport corporations were already operating buses on 300 inter-State routes. The agreements with the two Southern States and Puducherry had been renewed after a long time. A similar agreement with Andhra Pradesh would soon be signed, he told reporters.

The agreements would do away with double taxation, helping each corporation to save more than Rs.1 crore. The agreement with Karnataka provided for operating festival specials between the two States by the respective corporations.

Mr. Nehru said the Transport Department would soon establish integrated checkpoints at four places on the inter-State borders. Fully computerised and networked, they would be similar to the ones functioning in Gujarat that had contributed to substantial revenue increase.

The checkpoints, to be established at Pethikuppam, Hosur, Kandanchavadi (Valaiyar) and Kaliyakavalai, would be equipped with weigh bridges. They would ensure better enforcement and prevent revenue loss. Violations such as overloading, tax evasion and operation of vehicles without permits would come down. Officials of other departments could also make use of the checkpoints.

The Transport Department would soon introduce smart cards for issuing registration certificates and licences.

They would be introduced in the Chennai, Sivagangai and Cuddalore Regional Transport Offices on a pilot basis and extended to the other areas. The cards with embedded micro-chips would have complete details of vehicles and the licence holder.

Electronic hand-held ticketing devices would be introduced in 10,000 buses this year. More vehicles would get them next year.

Wage accord

Earlier, addressing a function to mark the distribution of electronic ticketing devices and handing over of promotion orders to employees of the Tamil State Transport Corporation at Kumbakonam, Mr. Nehru said a committee had been constituted to hold talks with employees unions for finalising a new wage accord.

“The talks will begin soon and pay anomalies between the corporations would be rectified.”

For the first time, organisational charts had been prepared in all the transport corporations. Except the TNSTC, Madurai, all other Corporations had started making profits. Vacant posts of engineers and technical staff would be filled soon. Time-bound promotions had been ensured.

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