Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi and transport minister Anjan Dutta at the inauguration of the Assam Courier Service in Guwahati on Wednesday. Picture by Eastern Projections

Guwahati, Dec. 18: The discount fever, the new-age mantra to boost business, seems to have finally caught up with the Assam State Transport Corporation (ASTC).

In a bid to encourage the public to use its fast-growing fleet and increase business volume, the ASTC will be offering discounts on fares to those who buy tickets above Rs 75 directly from its counters across the state from January 1.

Besides the discounts ranging from five to hundred per cent which the commuters can avail when they undertake their next journey on ASTC-run buses, passengers can also look forward to winning cars, television sets and other appliances from April 1.

The two-pronged strategy, which forms part of the ASTC’s ongoing revival package, was announced by transport minister Anjan Dutta this morning during the inaugural function of the Assam Courier Service, a joint venture project with a private firm.

Elaborating on the twin schemes, Dutta said it will encourage the habit of buying tickets from counters and not roadside agents as is the case now.

“This scheme, we hope, will encourage the habit of buying tickets from the counters and also help increase our bottomline and those of the private operators whose buses are running under our banner. The commuters have to scratch the relevant portion of the ticket to know about the discounts. Those not lucky will have to be content with the “try again” message. The commuters just have to produce the ticket at the counter to seek the discount during their next journey, wherever it may be and whatever the fare”.