Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 20: With the objective of achieving transparency in the operation of ticket checking, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has decided to equip their ticket examiners with body cameras. This will effecitviely put an end to allegations of partisan attitude and levelling of charges against each other.

Body camera system was prevalent in Bengaluru Metro Transport Corporation till four years back. This system will be introduced all over Karnataka now. KSRTC, Northeast KSRTC, Northwest KSRTC will adopt the system in phases commencing from this month.

There will not be any changes in the method of ticket checking.The examiners before entering the bus, should fix the body cameras to their shirt pockets. The equipment is switched off only after all the tickets are checked and the examiner gets down from the bus. So, all developments in the intervening period are recorded in the camera, footage of which will be checked later. The officials say that the recording will remain in the camera for a month.

Ticketless passengers are fined up to to Rs 500. Arguments, objections, pleading etc which follows, are recorded in the camera. If the conductor is found to be at fault, the ticket examiners will be recommend steps.

In the past, there were allegations that ticket examiners were not working effectively and in some cases they were acting partisan. It was also said that if money was paid, the examiners desisted from recommending action. Divisional controller, Arun Kumar, says that the body camera system is an effort to reduce such allegations as far as possible. Divisional traffic controller of KSRTC Mangaluru, Kamal Kumar, said that the division has received two body cameras and eight more equipment are expected.