Electronic rebate card for private bus travel

Thursday, 09 February 2012 22:30

The Private Transport Services Ministry will introduce an electronic ticketing system for inter-provincial private buses from next month, Minister C.B. Ratnayaka said today.

“We expect to issue an electronic card similar to the credit or debit cards issued by commercial banks for the use of school children, the clergy, journalists and retired public servants who use inter-provincial private bus services as a pilot project, Minister Ratnayaka told the Daily Mirror.

He said those who use the electronic card will get a minimum 10% to 15% rebate when using the card to purchase a ticket which will amount to a monthly reduction of about Rs.300 for a season ticket valued at Rs.800 or the same amount of monthly bus fare.

The electronic cards will be available at passenger transport authority offices.

Minister Ratnayaka added that the new system would prevent malpractices by private bus conductors and contribute to minimise cheating, thereby increasing the income of private bus owners (SAJ)

Comments

-6+41#jajal2012-02-10 01:15

Dear Minister....don't talk jokes like this...still the Conductors are not wearing the yellow suite, still ticket machines aren't available in all buses....first of all try to maintain the laws that are prevailing then try to introduce new lawas...

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-0+5#Lankan2012-02-10 09:30

Before going to this, Hon minister should take action against all the Ticket Checkers. i have seen several time this bus Conductors give bribe to these ticket Checkers inside that yellow card near Nelum Pokuna (next to Colombo Museum).

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-0+26#Kolomba Kaka2012-02-10 06:24

SL should consider using Cash Cards like in Singapore for most public transactions. This saves time, change problems and reduce bribery.

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-0+2#mohan2012-02-10 08:14

bit hard to implement , and it will increase overhead and increase fare, in Singapore public transport operate my one company in sri lanka each bus have different owner and different business plan

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-0+3#ind2012-02-10 11:10

Yes, but cards can issue from one place which should be compatible to all busses.

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-3+1#FALCON2012-02-10 08:20

Haaaaaaa travel card (season card) OLD style

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-0+8#Jenny2012-02-10 08:23

Well said Jajal.

Dear Minister, Please do something so that the conductors issue tickets to all the passengers. Even though the bus displays a poster saying "Ticket pathak nomathiwa gaman kereema daduwam labiya haki waradaki", many passengers do not get tickets.

Please could you take action to prevent this situation?

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-0+12#Gayan Samarasekara2012-02-10 09:18

That's actually difficult, if the bus is heavily crowded. But the conductor ensures that he collects money. Sometimes, he doesn't have change to give passengers the balance of payment. Some passengers also don't have 1, 2 rupee coins.. Therefore, it is advisable to go for some electronic payment method, which hampers bus workers stealing money which should otherwise go to the owners. Ultimately this will give Sri Lankans a very good mode of transportation, in few years from now. Mr Minister, please go ahead with the proposed idea, and improve it.

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-3+12#Bus Magiya2012-02-10 08:48

Good Idea..!! But, how practical is it in Sri Lanka..?? Passengers will buy the Electronic Cards. When we are about to board on a bus, you will find the Card Reader is out-of-order. The poor "Bus Magiya" will have to buy a ticket - Double Payment.
Excellent idea for the Government to collect more money.

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-0+11#Gayan Samarasekara2012-02-10 08:50

Certainly we have to go for some electronic payment system for all the transportation purposes. For example, many Sri Lankans are aware of the reload system for mobile phone payments. Therefore this can't be a big deal. This is certainly helpful from the bus owners side, because most of the profit is shared by the driver and conductor.

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-3+2#Nodrog2012-02-10 09:27

Why do we always go for the impractical solution? Obvious reason is someone is making a buck somewhere.

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-1+2#Kangarro2012-02-10 10:07

DON'T HAVE LAWS ONLY ON PAPERS IF YOU DON'T IMPLEMENT THEM

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-0+5#Mifaz2012-02-10 10:46

Your plans are good but unfortunately our people are not groomed enough. Practically does not work. Please change the attitudes of the public soon then you'll can implement things faster.

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-0+2#Lanka2012-02-10 12:43

Our guys are quite capable of riding free with fake debit cards

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