Wednesday, January 6, 2016

KMT plans passes at discount for sr citizens - Times of India Bus fare concession

KMT plans passes at discount for sr citizens

TNN | Jan 6, 2016, 02.24 PM IST

Kolhapur: The municipal corporation's transport body will grant 50% concession to senior citizens with periodic travel passes.

The decision was made after several organisations associated with senior citizens wrote to the Kolhapur Municipal Transport administration to come up with a new policy to address the concerns of those travelling by the KMT-run buses.

According to the final draft of the policy, four kinds of periodic passes will be offered to senior citizens - seven days, 15 days, 30 days and three months.

At present, over 1,000 senior citizens use periodic passes, but they do not get any concession.
KMT transport inspector Raghunath Dhupkar said, "At present, senior citizens get a discount on regular tickets. But, on many occasions, the discount doesn't add up to round figures and senior citizens find it difficult to pay change. From now on, the discount on regular tickets will be cancelled and concessions will be applied on periodic passes. This will also help us get many senior citizens to use public transport."

The KMT has been providing discount on regular tickets for senior citizens, but many times, they are forced to pay the normal amount due to non-availability of change.

They are also unnecessarily harassed by the ticket collectors. The transport body has also decide to provide lifetime cards to all senior citizens.

"At present, senior citizens have to pay Rs 25 to get ID cards renewed every year. But they find it difficult to provide photographs and other documents needed for renewal. That is why we will charge a one-time fee of Rs 100 for the cards which will not have to be renewed every year," said Dhupkar.

As of now, the transport utility allows concession in ticket prices for students, physically-challenged people and freedom fighters and senior citizens. The concession varies from 25% to 100%. Officials believe that the revenue loss due to the concession is not of prime importance, but getting these people to use public transport is the bigger priority.

Concession to senior citizens
Type of pass|actual cost | cost after concession
7 days|185|93
2 wheeler 3 years insurance
ICICI Lombard
Recommended By Colombia
15 days | 360|180
30 days |700|350
90 day |1,750|875
(Source: Kolhapur Municipal Transport)

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