Pvt. Bus passengers get ‘smart card’ upgrade

5 June 2013 10:44 am - 16 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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The country’s first pre-paid card system for private buses would be introduced from Thursday, the Lanka Private Bus Owners Association said today

The prepaid card system would begin as a pilot project for a month starting today in all Mattegoda and Maharagama buses plying from the High Level Road in Colombo.

“The prepaid card could be purchased with a refundable deposit of Rs.200 to which any amount of money could be loaded at any People Bank branch, Dialog branch or telecommunication in Colombo. The amount loaded into the card would be confirmed through a confirmation message sent to the mobile phone similar to a mobile phone reload,” association President Gemunu Wijeyratne said.

Accordingly when boarding a bus the card should be handed over to the bus conductor who would in turn punch the card in a machine and issue a receipt. The daily revenue earned by the bus operators punched in the machine would be automatically generated in a system by the bank which would issue a debit card to bus operators to withdraw their earnings.( Olindhi Jayasundera)

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Comments - 16

y this kolai veri Wednesday, 05 June 2013 10:58 AM

Awesome :) This is really good..no balance money issues to the passengers and the conductors :)

Dude Wednesday, 05 June 2013 11:13 AM

Finally we can do away with the pesky "Rupiyal Dekak nedda?" Or "Bahina kota Sallie Illaganna". I hope they will role this out very quickly to all bus routes.

Shifaz Wednesday, 05 June 2013 11:09 AM

Finally, i won't have to pay extra 1 and 2Rs coins for the conductor! Good move. :)

Ahamed Nuzhan Wednesday, 05 June 2013 11:21 AM

A welcome initiative!

Sim Wednesday, 05 June 2013 11:29 AM

when the buses are jampacked, how do you expect the bus conductor to do this.

Aroos Wednesday, 05 June 2013 11:50 AM

Good question, but for that they should issue the ticket before boarding the bus like done in Singapore

Nihal Amarasekera Thursday, 06 June 2013 04:20 AM

Smart, if implemented properly.

Appuhami Thursday, 06 June 2013 04:42 AM

this is good for both parties.When introducing a new system problems may arise. But, we must appreciate the action taken by the private bus association.
Why not for Railway and CTB??????

Rata Haraka Thursday, 06 June 2013 06:42 AM

Sim, how does the conductor collect the money when the buses are 'jam-packed'?

old citizen Thursday, 06 June 2013 07:12 AM

Wait and see how smart the conductors are

Saradial Thursday, 06 June 2013 09:17 AM

Oh great no more fight with conductor for balance (Y)

asoka Thursday, 06 June 2013 10:23 AM

ada machine eka kedila...karunakarala salli athata araganna...wait and see...

Kiwi Thursday, 06 June 2013 10:49 AM

WIll be interesting to see how our fellows out smart the smart card.

rakmesh Thursday, 06 June 2013 12:09 PM

It is a good idea. But I have some questions.
Will the conductor issue a ticket so that in the vent of check by repetitive authorities the passenger has proof to show that he/she has a valid ticket for the journey..
Secondly, if there is no ticket issued how will the authorities know that the passenger has paid the full amount. For instant if the fee for the destinations Rs. 20/- the conductor could say give me Rs.10/- and will swipe the card for Rs. 5/- where both the passenger and the conductor benefits but not the state

Rohan Friday, 07 June 2013 12:00 AM

Now all the kondas go bankrupt. via DM Android App

Lankan Friday, 07 June 2013 09:36 AM

Yes a receipt will be issued.

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Pvt. Bus passengers get ‘smart card’ upgrade

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