Bus ride free for kids below 5 yrs, but minimum age for booking seats still three

THE transport department's decision to retain the minimum age for reserving bus tickets as three years even though the state government recently announced free travel for children up to five years, has come as a relief for commuters travelling long distances with children.

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"Earlier, the minimum age for both free travel and seat reservation in government buses was three years. Despite children up to five years old now being allowed to travel free of cost in eight transport undertakings, the minimum age for seat reservation remains three. This decision was taken to facilitate long-distance commuters who want to reserve seats for their children," said a transport official.