TNSTC bus display board hacked, flashes Vijay’s party name

Trichy: Unidentified miscreants allegedly hacked into the motherboard of a Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) electronic route display board and uploaded content displaying the name of actor Vijay's political party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. A video of the bus showing the party name went viral on social media, sparking curiosity and raising security concerns. TNSTC officials confirmed that it was not a technical glitch but a deliberate act by unidentified individuals. A police complaint has been lodged.The BS6 model TNSTC bus, bearing registration number TN 45 M 4853, operates under the Trichy zone of the Kumbakonam division and plies between Trichy and Cumbum via Dindigul and Theni.On Sunday morning, the bus departed from Cumbum towards Trichy. While in motion, the LED route board abruptly began displaying "Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam" in English.Members of the public who noticed the display were left stunned and confused. Many questioned whether a government-operated bus was promoting a political party. An onlooker recorded the incident on a mobile phone, and the video quickly spread across social media platforms.Following the controversy, transport department officials initiated an inquiry. The department stated that once the issue was noticed, the motherboard of the route display board was immediately replaced. The correct route details were reloaded when the bus halted at Manapparai.The department also said it has instructed the company supplying electronic route boards for TNSTC buses to implement safeguards to prevent such incidents in the future.Speaking to TOI, D Sathish Kumar, general manager of Trichy zone, TNSTC, said, "We have lodged a complaint with the police seeking action against the culprits."Police investigation revealed that the viral video was recorded near Vaiyampatti, close to Manapparai in Trichy district. Efforts are underway to identify those responsible for breaching the public transport system.