Priyadarshini free service hit by scam; Male commuters issued women's 'zero value tickets’

Kochi: Financial fraud has surfaced in parts of the Priyadarshini bus service, a flagship project of the state government. The fraud involves issuing "Zero Value Tickets", meant exclusively for female passengers, to male passengers.

The fares collected from these men are allegedly pocketed by the staff. Following complaints from some passengers, authorities have initiated investigations and action. Meanwhile, political interventions are reportedly underway to settle the matter and pressure complainants into withdrawing their grievances.

Exploiting unwary passengers

Conductors are taking advantage of passengers who do not check their tickets properly to issue them "Zero Value Tickets". In one detected instance, the complainant was a Tamil Nadu native. After commuting on the Aluva–Paravur route, he realised upon getting off that he had been issued a free travel ticket intended for women. He immediately submitted an e-mail complaint to the KSRTC Operating Control Centre.

During the inquiry, the temporary conductor claimed in his defence that the bus was overcrowded and that he suffered from poor vision. However, a review of the ticketing system report revealed that there were only 34 passengers on board at the time. The inquiry report submitted to higher authorities concluded that the conductor generated illegal financial gain.

Another incident occurred on the Ernakulam–Guruvayur route. When a male passenger pointed out that he had received a free ticket, the conductor took it back and issued a standard male ticket instead. Watching this unfold, another male passenger checked his own ticket and discovered that he, too, had been issued a women's free ticket. Suspicious of the conductor’s behaviour, he lodged a complaint with the KSRTC Control Centre after disembarking. Although the complaint was received in the afternoon, officials inspected the conductor’s bag only by the evening, where they discovered an unaccounted excess of ₹185.

In another case on a bus from the Ponnani depot heading to Palakkad, eight male interstate tourists were issued women's free tickets. Following an official inspection, the conductor was suspended.

The mechanics of the 'Priyadarshini' fraud

• Tickets are issued using the Priyadarshini Free Travel (PFT) option for female passengers and the Male option for male passengers.
• When a "Zero Value Ticket" is issued, its full monetary value is logged into the ticket machine and accounted for as money to be reimbursed to KSRTC by the state government.

Severe staff shortages cripple inspections

Inspectors: Out of the required 789 ticket inspectors, only 311 are currently in service. The lack of routine ticket checks on buses is the primary cause of widespread irregularities.

Station Masters: Only 210 Station Masters are present against a required strength of 310.

Compounded duties: In locations without a Station Master, their duties, along with investigating passenger complaints, fall on inspectors.

In effect fewer than 150 inspectors are actually available to carry out on-bus ticket checks across the network.