Guwahati, Oct. 21: The state government will introduce as well as upgrade several facilities for passengers to improve the services of the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC).

Passengers will be able to avail of special concessions on existing fares. While freedom fighters and differently-abled individuals travel for free, 30 per cent concession for male students, 35 per cent concession for female students and senior citizens have been announced.

If a person purchases five ASTC tickets, he will get a free ticket.

"The ASTC will provide 20 per cent and 30 per cent concessions to daily commuters and for yearly passes respectively. Free travel in ASTC buses will be given to children below the age of five," state transport minister Chandra Mohan Patowary said.

"The ASTC has also increased the trip allowance from 9 paise and 10 paise per km for the entire state to 35 paise. The trip allowance for urban areas has been increased from 25 paise per km to 75 paise per km," he said.

Passengers travelling long distances will now not need to worry about meals as the ASTC will provide food and water on board for them.

The state government will also adopt a business model along the lines of a public-private partnership to develop all assets of the ASTC.

LED screens, sound systems and microphones will be installed in front of the driver's seat in all buses so that details of important places can be announced to the passengers.

Technology like e-ticketing, GPS and GIS-based bus tracking and monitoring and SMS service for information on buses operating on different routes will be introduced to make travel safe for passengers, especially women.