Citizen’s VOICE

Recently while travelling from Shastrinagar to the Pune Municipal Corporation by a PMPML bus plying between Wadagaonsheri and the PMC,Shivajinagar,a senior citizen who travelled with me was not allowed by the conductor to avail himself of the concession on the ticket fare extended to senior citizens by the transport utility,as the identity card issued to him by PMPML was invalid.

Despite producing his identity card issued by the Election Commission of India as proof of his age and eligibility as a senior citizen,the conductor did not budge. The identity card issued by the Election Commission clearly mentions that the card may be used as an identity card under different government schemes. But the conductor refused to accept this,saying senior citizen commuters must produce the valid ID card issued by the PMPML to avail themselves of the concession in fare. Ordinarily,an identity card is not issued by any organisation or authority with any validity date on it and it is changed if there is considerable facial change in the appearance of the holder. One can’t help wondering why the PMPML issues bus pass identity card with a validity period. As one’s age is calculated based on the date of birth shown on any identity card,one feels the stand taken by the PMPML conductor was not in order and he could have allowed the senior citizen to avail the concession by buying a ticket worth Rs 25. One hopes the authorities concerned take note of such issues.

R Nambiar

Yerawada

Extend free bus

pass plan to Class XII students,too

z THE Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) is yet to distribute free passes to schoolchildren up to Class X. Three months on,there is still no sign of the passes being issued to all the students. This has been the civic body’s approach over the years. I also wonder why the PCMC restricts passes to students only up to Class X?

Why can’t the free pass scheme be extended to all students up to Class XII? It could,at least,be made to girl students.

Sanjeevani Pandey

Chinchwad