Karnataka government has come up with an attractive schemefor students who travel by the state transport buses.
The State’s Karnataka Transport Corporation has introducedan attractive discounted pass system for students travelling by bus, which hasattracted students from the border areas of Maharashtra.
The Karnataka government’s scheme for the students hasthrown a challenge to the Maharashtra State Transport Corporation.
Last week Karnataka government has announced 15-20% pricereduction on the student’s pass.
Students from first to seventh standard have the facility totravel free as per the scheme. For male students from eighth to tenth standardthe charge is Rs 600 for 10 months and Rs 400 for girl students.
For graduation to post graduation students the charge is Rs1100, while ITI, Diploma, Nursing, BeD, MAD students have to pay Rs 1150 forten months.
The Maharashtra state transport also offers a scheme to itsstudents but compared to its Karnataka counterpart, it gives hardly any solaceto the student community.
Under the Ahilyabai Holkar scheme the Maharashtra StateTransport Corporation offers only rural students from fifth to tenth standardfree pass for traveling. There is no pass system for 10 months in Maharashtra.They have to renew the passes every month. The State Transport Corporationgives 66.67% concession.
For a distance from Nipani to Kolhapur, Karnataka TransportCorporation charges Rs 1100-1400 rupees for 10 months to its students, whereasMaharashtra State Transport Corporation charges Rs 6200.
Students on the border areas of Maharashtra prefer Karnatakabuses to reach to the schools, as Maharashtra government has failed to launchbetter scheme to attract the students.
According to MLA, Chandrakantdada Patil the governmentshould reduce the travelling fare for the student community.
