Bhubaneswar: The Odisha State Road Transport Corporation has decided to lodge police complaints against conductors of its buses for pilferage of money by not issuing tickets through electronic ticketing machines (ETM).

The corporation had in September last year stopped the practice of issuing manual tickets to the passengers.

The corporation on Monday lodged a complaint at Tangi police station in Cuttcak district against conductor R.C. Chakraborty. He was found pocketing fares of six passengers travelling to Keonjhar from Bhubaneswar by not issuing electronically generated tickets.

"Earlier, the erring conductors used to be penalised. But, we have decided to crack the whip on those indulging in such corrupt practice. A team has been formed to conduct surprise inspection to find out whether the passengers are being given electronically generated tickets," said the corporation's general manger (administration) S.K. Patel.

The transport body has procured as many as 440 ETMs. Its officials said the system was implemented to maintain transparency and record of the exact tickets sold.

The corporation is operating as many as 420 buses on 213 routes, including service to other states such as Bengal and Andhra Pradesh. Officials said it had engaged as many as 441 conductors. The transport body operates under the state commerce and transport department and is the only organisation of the state government passenger transport.

"A total of 574 buses had been checked during the past three months and 33 passengers were found travelling without tickets. The passengers claimed to have paid the ticket fares to the conductors. We have collected penalty of Rs 2.03 lakh from the erring conductors and disengaged two of them," said an official.

In May, the corporation had launched air-conditioned bus service by adding 19 AC buses, which are plying on 11 routes in the state. "We have also launched a mobile-based app for cell phone users to book tickets. We are also planning to extend bus service in 90 routes," said an official.

4 killed in accident

At least four persons were killed and one injured when a car they were travelling in fell off a bridge over the Hati river early on Thursday morning. The deceased have been identified as Ganesh Mahalik, Bablu Mahalik, Arun Sahu and Rabi Pradhan. The critically injured, Abhi Kata, who was driving the vehicle.