Following a hike in salaries for employees, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) wants ticket sales to cover additional expenses.
Story so far: Expenditure on salaries will increase by ₹10 crores after the 14th wage settlement and the 3% hike in dearness allowance. The MTC is short of funds and wants the money from ticket sales to cover the additional expenses. Official data shows that 55% of the MTC’s earnings are spent on salaries.
- The MTC’s finance department said ₹3.5 crores could be earned through ads on buses and ₹6.5 crores through ticket sales. Earnings decline through cancelled trips and unscheduled leaves of drivers.
- Each depot will have a monthly ticket collection target. Depot managers have been asked to ensure the resources are optimally used to minimise wastage.
The numbers: Last year, the per day patronage of the MTC reduced to 75 lakh from 2 crores in 2018. It has a fleet of more than 3,200 buses. 2,800 of them are used every day, and the rest are spare.