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NST bus[/caption]
Dimapur, Oct 12 (EMN): The government of Nagaland has announced free travel facility for senior citizens, aged above 60, in buses operated by the Nagaland State Transport (NST).
In a statement issued on Friday, the NST informed that for identification of senior citizens, a certificate to that effect issued by a competent authority i.e. Medical or the Social Welfare department, shall be prerequisite for eligibility.
“A bonafide senior citizen should be in possession of a valid identity card issued from the NST department on payment of INR 50 renewable after two years against payment of INR 20, and in case of any damage/lose, new identity card shall be issued on payment of INR 50.
“Companion, if any, of the senior citizens shall have to pay fare against prior reservation on request, to occupy a seat next to the senior citizen. Free travel for senior citizen is permissible for both to and from including break journey or from the originating to the terminating station, shall be considered as completion of one stretch of journey.
“Free travel facility of senior citizen shall be limited to four seats in a particular bus and seat Nos bearing 4 to 7 shall be reserved and marked accordingly. And in the event of exceeding the normal or usual frequency of travel in a calendar year, restriction to a certain limit shall be imposed which shall be placed at the discretion of the controlling officer for decision,” it informed.
To avail the facility, a request in advance or at least half an hour before departure of the bus would be preferred ‘subject to availability of seat for that purpose,’ according to the department. “This free travel facility shall be non-transferable and any imposter so detected shall be held liable leading to cancellation of the identity card.”
