We’d rather go without passes than login to get one: Students

Bengaluru: Students are dreading the process of applying for a bus pass online as the last academic year has been continued for this year as well. Thousands of students are yet to get their smart cards (bus passes) that allow them to travel from their home to their college at a concessional rate. The Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has received 3.36 lakh online applications, and has issued smart cards to 2.38 lakh students in which 50,827 applications have been rejected for reasons that include failure to upload photos in the required format and not providing course and institution details.

Speaking to Deccan Chronicle, a BMTC official said "Applications are rejected for many reasons and this time what we have learnt from our previous mistake is that we have informed students whose applications have been rejected through SMS and email. We have advised them to submit the application again in the correct format and with the required details."

Records say that out of 3.36 lakh applications, 20,804 are pending approval as the BMTC is waiting to hear from the educational institutions. Another 27,155 students whose applications have been approved have been asked to fix online appointments so that they can collect their cards at the distribution counter of their choice after paying the fee.

"In August, classes for engineering and medical students will commence. Students can still apply to avail the smart cards. At present, we have the capacity to issue 9,500 smart cards per day at various counters, including Majestic bus stand. Only after this month, we will get a clear picture on how many students have received the smart cards" the official added.

BMTC has established 92 centres at 26 locations in the city where students can apply for a pass. This includes 12 counters at Majestic bus stand and eight each at Vijayanagara and Shantinagar bus station.