In this article we will discuss about:- 1. Introduction to Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation 2. History of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation 3. Overview 4. Origin 5. Services Available to the Public 6. Institutes of Road Transport 7. Awards 8. Other Related Information.
Contents:
- Introduction to Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation
- Overview of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation
- History of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation
- Origin of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation
- Services Available to the Public by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation
- Awards to Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation for Low Usage of Diesel
- Other Related Information of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation
1. Introduction to Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation:
Looking back, having a close watch on the footprints and the distance travelled in the rain and shine to reach better heights, always helps to feel proud about oneself and cherish the pleasant moments that one has come across in one’s journey. Tracing the origin interestingly, looking at the present realistically and viewing the future optimistically enable individual and organisation to move in the right direction with enthusiasm and determination.
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The researcher has made an attempt to collect and present the profile related to the study area and unit. It is believed that the attempt will deepen his understanding of the working picture of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation.
Tamil Nadu is in the forefront of the Indian subcontinent in providing an efficient transport service to the people. Transport facilities are a basic ingredient in a modern society for bringing people together and for the improvement of the society. The Tamil Nadu Government, with its transport corporations, provides various types of service such as metro, mofussil, express, ghat services etc., to bring the people together. Whether it rains or shines, efficient and safe transport operation is continued in all parts of Tamil Nadu by the State Transport Undertakings.
The Transport Department is having under its control 18 State Transport Undertakings including Tamil Nadu Transport Development Finance Corporation, Pallavan Transport Consultancy Services Ltd., Institute of Road Transport, Chennai and Motor Vehicles Maintenance Department.
The Transport Department is also the Nodal Agency in the State Government in respect of projects implemented by the Southern Railway, Postal and Telecommunication Department and the Civil Aviation Department of the Government of India, within the State of Tamil Nadu.
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2. Overview of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation:
Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) is the Government public transport bus operator of Tamil Nadu, India. It operates buses on intra-and inter-State bus routes. It also operates on city routes. In the 2007-2008 budget it was announced that 5000 new buses would be added to the corporations within five years.
TNSTC is the second largest transport corporation in India and is well known for its route coverage almost every remote area in Tamil Nadu. The TNSTC bus fare is the lowest in the country.
Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation was the first in India to introduce excellent paintings in buses. The school students get a pass to travel in the corporation’s buses at free of cost from their school to their homes. These passes are issued by the Government of Tamil Nadu.
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Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation operates buses of various classes to cater to different sections of the public:
1. General buses, the largest in its capacity, ply on inter district, inter-village routes and cater to a majority of the passengers.
2. Video coaches (Super Deluxe) are operated between district headquarters and to places of tourist and pilgrimage importance.
3. Ultra Deluxe coaches are operated from various important commercial centres of Tamil Nadu to Chennai, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram and also amongst the centres. These are the Non-AC luxury coaches of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation. These have recliner seats with larger leg-room, personal fans and light.
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4. AC video coaches are operated from Chennai to commercial centres like Madurai, Trichy, Thanjavur, Bangalore etc. These have recliner cushion seats with personal AC vents and lights. Mineral water is available at free of cost during the journey.
The last two types of coaches are also operated by State Express Transport Corporation (SETC). Due to the sharing of market of these services and low fares, Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation has reported losses in recent times.
Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation has its own coach building units and it uses Ashok ley land buses.
Tamil Nadu State Development Finance Corporation was established in 1972 to collect deposits from the public in order to fund Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation.
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3. History of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation:
In 1944 after the World War II, the British-led Central Government in India appointed a committee to analyse and report the status of public transport in the country. The committee so appointed analysed the transport system all over India and found that a majority of the private operators in the transport sector were aiming at profit maximisation only, ignoring public interest.
The committee forwarded its report to the Government in 1946 recommending the nationalisation of the Transport Sector in the better interests of the nation. The Government of India then accepted the recommendations of the committee and passed an order to all the states in India to nationalise the Transport Sector.
On the basis of the order issued by the Central Government, the then Chennai Rajathani Government passed an order on 24-03-1947 to nationalise 239 private buses which were operated in Chennai, the capital of the state. As per the order of the Government, all the buses operated in Chennai were nationalised gradually before July 1948 and named as ‘Government Bus Service’.
In Independent India, the States were re-organised in 1956 on the basis of the languages spoken by the people in different regions of the nation. The Karnataka and Andhra regions were segregated from the Chennai Rajathani region on the basis of the language spoken by the people and the remaining part of the region was renamed as the state of Madras. Hence the ‘Government Bus Service’ was changed into ‘State Transport Department’.
The Kanyakumari District, which was under regime of the Tiruvithankoor State, was merged with the state of Madras on 01-11-1956. The buses operated by the Tiruvithankoor state in Kanyakumari District were also merged with the State Transport Department of Chennai. The administration of Kanyakumari Transport Division was headed by a District Transport Superintendent appointed for that purpose and he was acting under the Director in Madras.
The State Transport Department which was functioning in Madras and Kanyakumari entered into an agreement with the State of Karnataka and the first express transport service between Madras and Karnataka was started in August 1959.
Since the operation of transport service between Madras and Karnataka was a grand success in the history of the two regions, there were enough demands from the people of the State of Madras to operate such express services locally and as a result of such popular demand, express transport service was started for locations exceeding 120 km from Madras, connecting all the district headquarters of the state.
Extending the transport service in the entire region was enabled by this initiative of the Government.
The policy on Nationalisation of Transport Service which came into force in 1946 was not widely accepted in principle and it is the ‘Dravida Munnetra Kalagam’ (DMK) which came to power in 1967 nationalised 495 private buses without extending their permit for further operation.
The State Transport Department was divided into Chennai, Salem, Trichy and Kanyakumari for its effective functioning and four joint directors were appointed under the Director in Madras to look after the effective functioning of the departments in these four sub-regions. The state of Madras was renamed as ‘Tamil Nadu’ by the then Chief Minister of the State Mr. Annadurai and hence the ‘State Transport Department’ was renamed as ‘Tamil Nadu State Transport Department’.
In 1968, the Government of Tamil Nadu appointed a high level committee to analyse the efficiency of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Department and the committee recommended that transport service should not be directly under the control of the Government and that the department might take the shape of a limited corporation. Such an initiative, it was recommended, would enable the transport sector in Tamil Nadu to function efficiently with its economic and service objectives.
The Government of Tamil Nadu on the basis of the above recommendations issued an order dated 08-11-1971 (G.O. No: 86) and the erstwhile Tamil Nadu State Transport vehicles and administration operated in Chennai and Chengalpattu were brought under the Companies Act, 1956 and named as Pallavan Transport Corporation Limited on 01-01-1972.
The establishment of Pallavan Transport Corporation Limited paved the way for the inception of other corporations and there are 18 transport corporations operating at present in Tamil Nadu.
4. Origin of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation:
The Kattabomman Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) was incorporated on 12-12-1973 and it commenced business on 1-1-1974 by taking over the assets and liabilities of the erstwhile Tamil Nadu State Transport Departments in Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts. Its headquarters was at Nagercoil and it covered Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts.
The Corporation was bifurcated due to its huge size and a new Corporation, viz., Nesamony Transport Corporation Limited was started with 352 buses with headquarters at Nagercoil and the headquarters of Kattabomman Transport Corporation Limited was shifted from Nagercoil to Tirunelveli with effect from 01-01-1983. On that date the Corporation owned 418 buses.
Kattabomman Transport Corporation Limited was renamed as Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, (Madurai Division – II) Ltd., Tirunelveli on 1-7-1997 and its strength of buses as on 31-03-2003 was 838.
5. Services Available to the Public by Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation:
1. Free Passes to Students Studying up-to Standard XII:
Students’ free bus passes are being issued to the students studying from standard I to XII in the Government recognised schools to travel between their residence and school.
Concession Tickets Issued by the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (Chennai):
(a) Free-pass for student’s up-to standard XII of recognised schools.
(b) 50% concession tickets & students’ tokens: Students of all the Arts and Science Colleges, recognised by the Government (except Self-Financing Arts & Science Colleges), Technical Institutions (I.T.I.s, polytechnic and Engineering Colleges) and Medical Colleges could travel in buses between residence and college.
The evening college and Technical Education part time students are also eligible for concession tickets from their office to College and from College to residence. In addition to this travel tokens at a cost of 70 paise each upto a maximum of 60 tokens per month can be availed for visits to specific places such as library. Cost of student concession tickets for the first 2 kms is Rs.19 , upto 4 kms it is Rs.24 and upto 6 kms Rs.26 is payable every month by the students.
(c) Monthly Season Tickets are being sold with permission to travel 60 trips (daily 2 trips)
(d) Travel as you please tickets.
Holiday one-day ticket is available at Rs.30, weekly ticket at Rs.160 and Monthly ticket at Rs.600. These tickets are issued as per the conditions printed on the ticket.
2. Free Pass to Physically Handicapped Persons:
Physically handicapped persons having a disability of 40% and above and having monthly income not exceeding Rs.1000/-, are eligible for getting free pass.
3. Free Pass to Mentally Retarded and Blind Persons:
This travel pass is issued to mentally retarded persons travelling with escorts. The disability percentage shall be 40% and above and monthly income should not exceed Rs.1000/-. All blind persons having a disability percentage of 40% and above can avail themselves of this pass without age limit.
4. Free Pass to Freedom Fighters and their Legal Heirs/Language Stir Participants and Cancer Patients:
Freedom fighters and their legal heirs and participants in the language stir who are residents of operational area are eligible for free passes. If a cancer patient travels alone and produces a certificate from the hospital where he is treated, the conductor should collect ¼ of the journey ticket amount from the patient and should issue the actual journey ticket. The conductor will retain the certificate issued from the hospital.
5. Luggage Fare:
Passengers can carry hand bags, small boxes upto 20 kg free of charge.
The luggage fare for items meant for sale is given below:
(a) For vegetable basket of gunny bags up to 20 kg, minimum fare Rs.3 or single journey fare for the distance involved whichever is higher.
(b) For luggage more than 20 kg minimum fare Rs.6 or twice the journey fare whichever is higher.
(c) For fish basket minimum fare Rs.8 or twice the journey fare whichever is higher.
6. Breakdown Service:
If the operation of a bus is disturbed due to any mechanical problem, the driver of the bus will park it close to the kerb of the road without hindrance to the traffic flow.
The conductor of the bus will sign on the rear side of the tickets and stop the oncoming buses and make facilities for the stranded passengers to travel further.
After transporting all the passengers, the conductor will transmit the message regarding the breakdown either to the depot or to the wireless control room. On receipt of the message the control room supervisor will send the mobile squad to attend to the repair of the vehicle and ensure that the vehicle is repaired and sent on line without delay.
In case the repair cannot be done at the breakdown spot, the bus will be taken to the depot on tow by using a lorry/wrecker. The concerned depot will carry out the necessary repairs and send the bus on line at the earliest.
7. Theft/Attack/Damage to Buses:
(a) If any passenger reports that a theft has occurred in the bus, the driver and the conductor will take the bus immediately to the nearest police station without stopping en-route and will hand over the complaint given by the passenger to the police officer. In case the theft suspects are identified, the co-operation of the passengers will be requisitioned to hand over the suspects to the police station.
(b) If the duty driver, conductor or passengers are attacked, efforts are to be made to handover the culprits to the nearest police station, if necessary with the help of the able bodied passengers.
(c) In case of an attack, the injured passenger or staffs are to be taken immediately to the nearest Government hospital.
8. Accidents Involving State Transport Buses:
(a) The crew of the bus should report to the Accident Branch and to the nearest police station about the location, time, accident details, route number, bus number, registration number, details of other vehicles etc., immediately.
(b) The injured persons should be taken immediately to the nearest Government hospital and arrangements should be made for giving medical treatment.
(c) The vehicle involved in the accident will be parked close to the kerb of the road without hindrance to the traffic flow after marking the wheel position of the accident vehicles.
(d) The driver and conductor should give a statement about the accident to the Traffic Inspector, Accident Branch of the State Transport Undertaking and also to the police. Further they should also co-operate with the investigating traffic inspector of the Accident Branch and the police in getting clues and necessary witness to investigate the accident.
(e) The injured persons are to be taken to the hospital immediately and in case no other vehicle is available for transportation, the injured could be taken by the same bus.
Procedure Adopted for Settling Award Amount in Accident Compensation Claims:
Accident victims of the buses plied by the State Transport Undertaking buses can file a claim petition before the Motor Accident Claims Tribunal for compensation for injuries sustained by them or for the loss of life of relatives.
In the event of any award being passed by the tribunal, the award amount will be deposited in the court. Motor Accident Claims Tribunal petitions are referred to lok-adalats (courts) also negotiated by the committee set up for the purpose and settled by the mutual consent of victims and the State Transport Undertaking.
9. Lost Property Enquiries:
A passenger who lost their belongings during travel in buses may approach the P.R.O. (Public Relations Officer) over phone or through a letter with details. The loss will be enquired in detail. If the belongings are available in the office the same will be intimated to the passenger.
The affected person can get back the items after submitting proper identification of the lost articles. On restoration of the articles, a small amount is collected from the passenger as storage charge and 50% of this amount will be paid to the conductor and driver who had handed over the articles at the office.
6. Awards to Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation for Low Usage of Diesel:
I. First place – National Award for Progression in Diesel and Oil Saving – 1995-96
II. First place – National award for Progression in Diesel Saving – 2001-02
III. Second place – National award for Progression in Diesel Saving – 2002-03
IV. First place – National award for Progression in Diesel Saving – 2004-05
V. First place – National award for Progression in Diesel Saving – 2005-06
7. Other Related Information of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation:
I. Stitching Allowance for Employees:
It has been learnt from the documents available that the stitching allowance for drivers and conductors is Rs.160 and Rs.180 per pair of dress.
II. Cremation Assistance:
The information available also shows that the family of an employee is eligible for Rs.2,000 in the event of the death of an employee and Rs.500 in case of the death of a family member of an employee.
III. Educational Assistance:
The Corporation also provides educational assistance to the children of the employees. It provides a sum of Rs.150 for two children of an employee to study upto the Higher Secondary level. The children of the deceased employees are also eligible to receive the same amount. The children of employees who pursue their studies in medicine, engineering and law are eligible to receive an educational assistance of Rs.1,500.
IV. Earned Leave Salary:
The Corporation calculates the earned leave salary of its employees by adding the basic pay with the rest of the components of salary such as Dearness Allowance, House Rent Allowance and City Compensatory Allowance etc., in arriving at the total emoluments of the employees.
V. Gratuity:
For an employee to become eligible to receive gratuity, he should have served in the Corporation at least for a period of five years. Death and incompetency of employees are exempted in arriving at the eligibility for receiving gratuity. An employee is eligible to receive a maximum of Rs.3.5 lakh as gratuity at the end his service in the Corporation.
If an employee passes away during the course of his service, the total period of his actual service will be taken into account and the respective Transport Corporation will pay the gratuity to the family of the deceased.
VI. Education Loan:
An employee of the Corporation is eligible to avail loan for meeting the expenses in connection with the education of their children. As per the prevailing rules of the Corporation, an employee is eligible to avail loan not exceeding 50% of the total accumulation of fund in his account.
VII. Loan for Buying a Plot/Construction of a House:
An employee is eligible for availing himself of a loan to buy a plot or construct a house during the course of his employment in the Corporation. As per the existing norms the employees are eligible to avail loan up to 50% and 90% respectively out of the accumulation of fund in their provident fund account for buying a plot or constructing a house.
VIII. Marriage Loan:
Marriage is an auspicious occasion in the life of anyone and the role of parents in arranging the wedding of their children cannot be ignored. The Corporation, with the view to enable the employees to get their children married, provides loan facility. Loan for marriage can be availed for three children and the maximum loan amount is Rs.30,000. The loan has to be repaid in 35 monthly installments and the rate of interest charged on the loan is 12 per cent.
IX. Accident-Free Award for Drivers:
It has been learnt from the available information that during the year 2007-2008, 531 licenses were suspended permanently and 9165 licenses were suspended temporarily as the result of accidents leading to death of victims. In order to save the precious life of the people and to motivate the drivers to be careful with their job, the Corporation has instituted an award.
As per the norms established for the award, drivers who have accident-free drive will receive a sum of Rs.250 , Rs.275, Rs.300, Rs.325, Rs.350 during the first, second, third, fourth and fifth year respectively. An additional sum of Rs.150 per year will be given to drivers for their accident- free drive exceeding five years.
X. New Medical Insurance Scheme:
The health of employees is an asset to any organisation. In order to protect the health and well-being of the employees of the corporation, the Government of Tamil Nadu has started a new Medical Insurance Scheme in association with Star Health Insurance Company (P) Limited.
As per the provisions of the scheme, a sum of Rs.25 will be deducted every month from the salary of the employees. The management of the Corporation will contribute a sum of Rs.195 per year along with a sum of Rs.62 towards service charge. An employee is eligible to receive medical treatment up to Rs.2 lakh within a period of 4 years and such a facility can also be enjoyed by the children and the wife of the employee.