e-ticket for 947 city buses from today

Bus owners are introducing e-ticketing for 947 more buses of 13 companies in the capital today to stop extra fare collection from passengers. 

The companies are Akash Enterprises (Sadarghat-Dhaur), Victor Classic Bus Owners Association (Sadarghat-Dhaur), No 6 Motijheel-Banani Transport Company Pvt Ltd (Kamalapur-Natunbazar), Green Anabil Paribahan Ltd (Signboard-Gazipur), Great Turag Transport Co Ltd (Jatrabari-Tongi Station Road), Anabil Super Ltd (Signboard-Gazipur), Raida Enterprises Ltd (Postagola-Dhaur), Asmani Paribahan Ltd (Madanpur-Abdullahpur), Somoy Transport Ltd (Gulistan-Kanchpur), Baisakhi Paribahan Ltd (Savar-Natunbazar), Raich Paribahan Ltd (Savar-Natunbazar), Airport Bangabandhu Avenue Minibus Owners Association (Kadamtali-Abdullahpur), and Manzil Express Ltd (Kanchpur-Dhaur).

E-ticketing was introduced for 1,643 buses of 30 companies in the first phase on November 13 last year. In the second phase, 717 buses of 11 companies came under the system on January 10 this year. 

Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association General Secretary Khandkar Enayet Ullah told a press conference on Tuesday they are trying their best to stop extra fare collection as well as fare dodging.

Asked what steps they have taken to ensure passenger-friendly bus services as most public transports are old and do not offer comfortable journeys, he said they want to settle the fare issue first and other matters will be addressed gradually.

The transport leader said it is very difficult to implement the e-ticketing system. “To do that, we have deployed many teams on the streets on behalf of the association.”

He said nine special checkers have been appointed to stop irregularities while 10 more will be recruited. “But it will take more time to remove the irregularities completely.”

When asked why passengers are still being charged arbitrarily even though e-ticketing has been launched, Enayet said, “We are implementing the system for the convenience of passengers so that they are not overcharged.”

He said e-ticketing will be fully operational gradually while gate-lock and seating services will be phased out.

“People should consider whether we are sincerely working or not. We are hiring 10 more checkers. We are conducting field inspections. We are not sitting idle,” the transport leader said, adding bus owners also want passengers to not pay fares to conductors without getting tickets. 

Journalists pointed out that some drivers and helpers do not get salaries and are hired under contract instead. Asked when this practice will stop completely, Enayet said, “Both systems now exist, but we want to eliminate the contract system once e-ticketing is fully operational.”    

When journalists asked why all bus owners are not cooperating to launch e-ticketing though they respond collectively when transport strikes are called, Enayet replied, “I have talked to transport workers several times about this. Every company has been asked to take initiatives to make workers aware of the matter. We are addressing the gaps.”

Replying to the complaint that helpers do not collect fares in the e-ticketing system and also charge passengers extra, he said, “You have to understand that the matter involves money. That is why we appointed checkers.”

The government has introduced Dhaka Nagar Paribahan, which aims to bring all the buses running in the capital under one umbrella. But there are allegations that transport owners and leaders are trying to stop this. When asked about the matter, Enayet said transport owners always corporate with them.

Currently, 97 companies operate 5,650 buses in Dhaka and the adjacent areas.