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Card payments on buses not a miracle: Minister
Colombo, Nov. 24 (Daily Mirror) - Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayaka says the introduction of credit and debit card payments for bus fares, launched today, is not a miracle but an important step toward building a more disciplined and reliable public transport system.
Speaking at the official launch at the Makumbura Multimodal Transport Centre, the Minister said the bus industry must be brought under proper regulation without harming bus owners. He noted that many daily issues faced by passengers stem from the lack of discipline in the sector.
“Passengers are not treated with respect, most buses are not punctual, and many do not drop passengers at designated stops. Some buses force people to get off before fully stopping. Tickets are not issued, and balance money is often not returned. Travelling by bus has become stressful, especially for women,” he said.
The Minister said the new card payment system addresses just one of these problems and stressed that this is only a pilot project. “There may be shortcomings. We need about two to three months to adjust,” he added.
Rathnayaka also acknowledged the possibility of network-related issues during transactions but said the system would ultimately benefit bus owners. “There is a huge leakage in bus fare collection today. This initiative will help ensure that income actually reaches the owners,” he said.
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