Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation daily passes can now be obtained round-the-clock. The State-run corporation on Tuesday launched an electronic pass distribution machine at Kempe Gowda bus station.

To obtain a pass, one just needs to furnish details like name, age and duration of the pass at the designated counter where the machine is installed. The machine also has a camera, which will take the applicant’s picture on-the-spot, and the e-pass will be ready in just a few seconds. A daily pass costs Rs 25 and the pass-holder can board any bus, except Volvo and AC buses.

“There is no more need to stand in long queues. Importantly, the passes cannot be misused thanks to the photograph,” Transport Minister N Chaluvarayaswamy, who inaugurated the new system, told reporters.

Smart card
Besides, a smart card concession pass for students was inaugurated on the occasion. The card will also have the photo plus all information about the student, including the name of the school/college, parents’ name and route of travel. These passes can be obtained from any of 31 BMTC stations. One has to collect the free application form from any of these stands. The filled-in form should be signed by the head of the school/college. One should also furnish the photocopy of the school admission receipt, Kempe Gowda station Assistant Traffic Manager V Nagaraj said. Nearly four lakh students are going to benefit.

The smart card passes will be issued between 8 am and 5 pm on all working days.

New Mysore buses
KSRTC has decided to replace all old buses in its Mysore urban division with new ones. There are 300 buses plying in the division and they will be shifted to Mysore rural division, “to provide better service to people in the State’s cultural capital,” as Mr Chaluvarayaswamy put it. For details, log on to: www.bmtcinfo.com