Govt oscillation on free bus passes confuses students

Students are not sure whether to buy bus passes or wait for some more time as the state government remains undecided about making the travel free for them. The extended validity of old student bus passes ends on August 15.

"There is hardly a week left for our passes to expire. Now that we are applying online for bus passes, we can see the fares for various categories and courses. Free bus passes will certainly help poor students. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy should at least make them free for students of government schools and colleges," said Basavraj, a student at Government Arts College.

While the chief minister has declared issuing free bus passes to students of government schools and colleges, no order has been issued as yet. Transport Minister D C Thammana, Higher Education Minister G T Devegowda and Primary and Secondary Education Minister N Mahesh have all said the project would be implemented.

Raksha, a PU student at Jain College, VV Puram, said: "Let the government take a clear stand on this. It's like fooling us. Sometimes they say it's only for students of government institutions and other times they say it's for all. They also say it would be a burden. If the government makes its stand clear, we will have it easy. If it's not for us, we can go ahead, pay the allotted fare and get the bus passes. We will not be left in the left."

BMTC managing director, V Ponnuraj, said unless the government issued a notification on free bus passes, students would have to pay the fixed fare. "The extended validity of old passes will expire on August 15. If we get an official notification on the project, the fares may be revised."