The Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) on Tuesday extended the usage of passes of non-AC buses in AC buses as well. The step was taken to ensure smooth functioning of bus services across the tricity following the delay of delivery of more non-AC buses in Chandigarh.
A spokesperson of the CTU said that due to delay in delivery of non-AC buses by the supplier in Chandigarh and as in winters, AC buses do not operate air conditioning, the CTU has decided to extend the usage of bus passes of non-AC buses in AC buses also.
As many as 130 buses were expected to be received here by the end of December 2014 however it has been delayed now. Earlier, the UT Administration, in the month of November and October had flagged off 40 new Midi AC and non-AC buses in Chandigarh.
The spokesperson said, “Keeping in view public convenience, CTU decided to extend the facility of AC city buses along with non AC buses to the monthly and long duration bus pass holders. Now, such pass holders of non-AC buses can travel on AC buses till February 15 without payment of any additional fare.”
Notably, CTU had recently introduced integrated transport services in tricity covering Chandigarh, Mohali, Panchkula, Mansa Devi, Mullapur, Zirakpur And Saketri. Now, monthly quarterly and six monthly passes are issued to the students and the general public through e-sampark centres, on “anytime anywhere basis”. There is no bar on place of residence and any person can avail the pass benefits for Chandigarh bus services for the tricity.
All Government employees including those working on contract and on outsourcing, on the basis of their identity-cards, can also get long duration passes at concessional rates of Rs 250 per month. After the introduction of integrated public transport system from September 5 onwards, the CTU had received as many as 1900 requests of bus passes including 1350 requests received from the students of the tricity in ten days.