Aurangabad, Feb 28:
Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) conductors have to face different problems of Electronic Ticket Issuing (ETI) machines, including battery discharging immediately, machine hanging and printing a blank ticket. The passengers are issued tickets through the machine.
The conductors face action such type of problem is found during the inspection. The conductors are angry over the condition of ETI.
One of the conductors wrote a four-page letter and ended life at Mahur depot in Nanded. In the letter, he showed technical errors in ticket machines.
The conductors many complaints of handing and printing blank ticket about the machines. However, there was no reduction in complaints.
The MSRTC takes the action of misappropriation against a conductor if it issues a blank ticket or found hang, without giving him an opportunity to present his side. There are 1,187 ETI machines in the Aurangabad division. The conductors have to the problems daily of being developing snag.
MSRTC divisional level officer Amol Ahire said that 360 machines developed a technical problem during the last one month.
Considering this, the number of complaints about the machine may go up to 3,000 in a year. MSRTC officer Mokale said that machines breaking down is a daily process.
Senior conductors can issue manual tickets easily if a machine goes out of order, while new conductors have no experiencing of using ticket tray.
Divisional Secretary of ST Kamgar Sanghatna Rajendra Mote said the complaints ticket machines are rising. “The conductors should be given new machines. A battery of the machines gets discharged before duty ends. This delays printing of a ticket. There is a possibility of action if checking is done. We have raised the issue about ETI machines time and again,” he added.
Divisional controller Arun Siya said that if a machine goes out of order, conductors can use a ticket tray. “Conductors can check machines while taking it,” he added. There are eight depots in the district with 550 buses. Three are 931 conductors for the buses.