ETM introduced in MTC buses to issue tickets in Tamil

Chennai, Nov 7 (UNI) Tamil Nadu Transport Minister K N Nehru today said 800 electronic ticketing machines were introduced in the city buses to enable the conductors to issue tickets printed in Tamil, even as the Opposition AIADMK staged a demonstration on the issue.

In a statement here, Mr Nehru said due to non-availability of software, bus tickets had been issued in English and described the AIADMK's agitation demanding issuance of tickets in Tamil, as ''politically motivated''.

He said of the 2,900 Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses, e-ticketing machines were introduced in 800 buses to ensure speedy issuance of tickets and to make the conductor's job easier.

When the system was introduced there was no software that enables printing of tickets in Tamil and the government was forced to issue tickets in English.

Following Chief Minister M Karunanidhi's instructions to take steps for issuance of tickets printed in Tamil, the Transport Department acquired the necessary Tamil software and had given 800 e-ticketing machines, which would print the tickets in Tamil.

In the next couple of weeks, this would be extended to all buses in a phased manner, Mr Nehru said, adding the agitation announced by AIADMK General Secretary was politically motivated as she was well aware that the Transport Department had been taking steps to acquire Tamil software for issuance of tickets printed in Tamil.

Stating that the Transport Department, which had been in ruins during the previous AIADMK regime, was given a fresh lease of life after the DMK came to power in 2006, by introducing new buses and increasing the fleet strength.

''Unable to bear the good name earned by the DMK government, Ms Jayalalithaa has been having the habit of announcing agitations to confuse the people'', Mr Nehru charged.

UNI GV AKM SV CS1717