Thu Mar 13 16:54:06 UTC 2025: ## Chennai Police Get Free Bus Passes
**Chennai, March 14, 2025** – Over 21,000 Chennai police personnel will now be able to travel for free on government buses while on official duty, thanks to a new “bus pass card” system launched Tuesday. The initiative, costing ₹29.96 crore, follows several incidents last year where conflicts arose between transport staff and police officers over ticket purchases. A viral video in May 2024 showed a constable refusing to pay for a bus ride, highlighting the need for a clearer system.
The program, announced by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin in September 2021, provides smart identity cards to officers ranging from constables to inspectors for intra-district travel. The cards will be valid on town and mofussil buses within the police officers’ designated revenue districts. However, the passes will not be valid on SETC buses, and the existing warrant system for inter-district travel remains in place.
Greater Chennai City Police Commissioner A. Arun launched the scheme, distributing cards to 10 officers. Metropolitan Transport Corporation Managing Director T. Prabhushankar also attended the event. The police department plans to issue 11,021 cards in the first phase of the rollout, with a total of 21,817 cards to be distributed across the city. The total number of police personnel receiving cards across the state is significantly larger, totaling 113,251 Special Sub-Inspectors and Grade-II constables, along with thousands of Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors.
First Piper 