Speechless in Chennai: A checking crew of MTC offloads two passengers, one blind, one a tourist. Jan 5, 2008
The tourist is shocked because he got in one stop earlier, and the conductor had not issued a ticket. At P.Orr and Sons.
The blind individual, who had a travel pass, tries to explain the situation. The crew is not convinced.
They wanted to go to Triplicane, but had boarded a bus in the wrong direction. The blind person carries a bag from Landmark store.
The tourist pleads with the checking crew, who are amused, as a beat constable looks on. The blind person is helpless.
There is no sympathy, despite explaining the situation. The two passengers had boarded a bus at Spencer's.
The policeman listens, but is apparently unwilling to tell the MTC staff to use their discretion.
A small crowd gathers at the bus stop, as the MTC crew clean out the pockets of the tourist, asking him to cough up a 500 rupee fine.
They end up collecting Rs.100, and the shocked passengers are left to fend for themselves. The crew did not guide them to their destination.
Just nearby, an MTC bus disgorges passengers, obviously overloaded way beyond the RTO sanctioned permit. No fines here.
On February 27, 2009, a couple with baggage and child were fined for ticketless travel on Anna Salai by MTC
Apparently from out of town, the couple were taken by surprise when the “checking squad” pounced on them.
Although this was apparently a genuine case, with the woman carrying a child in arms, MTC was wooden.
The man had to hand over Rs. 200 and something to these squad members.
