Govt officials, security personnel caught without tickets on DTC buses

Delhi government on Monday launched a rigorous drive against ticketless travellers in Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) buses, who cause a daily loss of around Rs one crore to the state exchequer.

On the first day of the drive, which will continue till 15 September, a total of 411 passengers were found travelling without tickets, and included government officials, Delhi police and armed forces personnel.

‘We have launched the mega drive against ticketless passengers. The government loses around Rs one crore daily as around 30 per cent of the commuters travel on our buses without buying tickets. Clear instructions have been given not to allow government officials, Delhi police personnel and armed forces personnel to travel free on DTC buses,’ said Transport Minister Ramakant Goswami. Earlier, Delhi police personnel used to travel free on DTC buses. The minister said a total of 189 government officials and Delhi police personnel were found travelling without tickets. A DTC official said they also found a group of 15 armed forces personnel travelling without ticket.

‘We have also fined a passenger who produced a Delhi police identity card, which appeared to be fake. The name of the person is Satish Meena,’ said the official.

Goswami said orders have been issued to DTC to come down hard on ticketless travellers. He said within a month government will increase the strength of the ticket checking squad to 1,800 from the existing 1,000.

Goswami, who was given the Transport department in the Cabinet reshuffle last month, has also appealed to people not to travel on DTC buses without ticket.

He said the government has decided to appoint Special Magistrates to ensure on-the-spot disposal of cases against ticketless travellers. Currently, DTC imposes an individual fine of Rs 200 on ticketless commuters.

In case such travellers are unable to deposit fine amount, they will be punished by Special Magistrates as per existing rules of the DTC. Goswami also instructed the DTC authorities to educate its conductors to issue tickets to all passengers including those from law enforcing agencies who often do not buy tickets.

The minister said government has decided to award conductors and drivers on their performances. ‘We will hold the conductors also responsible if passengers are found travelling without ticket in their buses,’ Goswami said.