Bus corporations make big bucks

Chennai: The state transport corporation earned a re­c­o­rd collection of over Rs 3.8 crore through on­li­ne booking of bus tickets during this Pongal season so far and is projected to have a profit of Rs 60 lakhs more as compared to last year.

The presence of special buses plying in and out of the city eased transportation issues on Thursday. The MTC operated special buses to clear the extra rush of passengers from Marina and Vandalur. The MTC has been plying 250 special buses on routes which are frequented by people on Pongal. The buses have been running since Tuesday and will be present till Saturday. MTC officials say, "We will watch the crowd using the buses and then decide on placing additional services."

Additional number of ticket checkers was deployed at crowded spots including Anna square. An official present at the spot said, "Many of them have been caught since the morning for not taking tickets." He added, "We em­phasise on checks du­r­ing the festival season as there are more instances of people getting away, not taking tickets." 

Most auto drivers preferred spending time with their kith and kin. M S Rajendran, state secretary of the auto drivers union says, "Most drivers do not ply autos today, they take their families out. Even people go in larger groups and do not opt for autos."

  The day was dull for omnibuses too as most did low business. A Pandian, president of the omni owners association says, "Generally, these days see low business. It is only at the end of the week when people start returning that business catches up."

Until Wednesday, Rs 3.28 crore was earned by the state transport in online booking of tickets. Sources say that the number will increase by another Rs one crore as people start returning to the city.