The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation-Kumbakonam (TNSTC) has rolled out ticketing machines for conductors to speed up the ticketing process on the conductor-less ‘navaratham’ bus services on the Tiruchi-Salem route. This initiative addresses complaints from commuters about extended travel times due to delays in ticket issuance.
Background and Challenges
The ‘navaratham’ services, introduced by the Kumbakonam and Salem divisions of TNSTC, feature nine halts (1-9) along the route. These services replaced the older 1-2-3 services, which had only three halts. While the introduction of more stops aimed to cater to public demand, it led to longer travel times, with buses taking over four hours to cover a distance previously traversed in three hours.
- Nine halts: Extended from the previous three halts to nine, causing delays.
- Conductor-less service: Conductors stationed at bus halts for ticket issuance.
Implementation of Ticketing Machines
To address the delays, TNSTC has equipped conductors with ticketing machines. This move is expected to streamline the ticketing process, reducing the time taken at each halt.
- Faster ticket issuance: Conductors can now issue tickets more quickly with the new machines.
- Efficiency: Conductors no longer need to manually tally collections and hand over trip sheets, speeding up the overall process.
Service Improvements
A senior TNSTC official in Tiruchi stated that the introduction of 1-9 services was in response to public requests for more halts. Despite initial teething troubles, the deployment of ticketing machines is expected to resolve these issues.
- Public demand: More halts introduced based on commuter requests.
- Resolved issues: Ticketing machines are expected to eliminate delays.
Impact on Commuters
Regular users of the ‘navaratham’ services had expressed concerns over the extended travel time and inconvenience caused by the inability to board or alight at certain stops, such as TVS Tollgate in Tiruchi. The new ticketing machines aim to address these concerns, improving the overall commuter experience.
- Convenience: Faster ticketing should reduce travel times and inconvenience.
- Continued service: The ‘navaratham’ buses continue to provide enhanced connectivity with more stops.
In summary, the introduction of ticketing machines for conductors on TNSTC’s ‘navaratham’ services is a significant step towards improving efficiency and reducing delays, ensuring a better travel experience for commuters on the Tiruchi-Salem route.
Source : thehindu
