You can now get free rides and concessions up to 50 per cent on the intercity air-conditioned bus travel.
For the first time in the state, public transport has come up with a unique frequent traveller scheme offering free rides to commuters who travel a specific number of
routes.
“The scheme was launched on Wednesday after a huge response to the AC Shivneri bus services,” Deepak Kapoor, managing director of Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) said.
MSRTC is currently operating air-conditioned Shivneri services between Dadar-Pune, Thane-Pune, Borivli-Pune, Pune-Nashik, Pune-Aurangabad, Pune-Sangli and Pune-Kolhapur.
Officials said a passenger travelling on an air-conditioned Shivneri bus on the same route five times will get 50 per cent concession in fare for the sixth journey on the same route.
But the passenger should complete all six journeys within two months. “If you use the scheme twice, you get one ride for free,” Kapoor added.
An official said explained that the MSRTC will issue a free I-Card to passengers for a two-month period.
The I-card will expire after two months or after six journeys, whichever is first.
Before starting each journey, the passenger should get the requisite information filled on the card by the Traffic Controller at the starting point.
Passengers boarding the bus midway should get the related information filled by the conductor or the Traffic Controller at the terminating point.
Asked how a 50 per cent concession would be given in case of an e-ticket or a reserved ticket, officials said 50 per cent of the passenger fare would be refunded at the starting point on showing the card.
“This 50 per cent concession or refund is applicable only for the fare and not the reservation charges,” the official added.