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New bus ticketing system to be pioneered in Pallekelle Provincial Council area
View(s):By L.B. Senaratne
In a move to ease congestion in buses, while at the same time ensuring the rights of bus owners, and ensuring a better service to commuters,a debit card system which will do away with cash tranactions between commuters and bus conductors is to be launched.
The scheme will be launched at the Pallekelle Provincial Council Complex by President Sirisena tomorrow and will initially come into operation on two routes; the Dumbara – Kandy route via Teldeniya and the route from Kandy to Kadugannawa via Denuwara.
All payments will be made through a ” Debit Card System”. Under the new system all commuters will be required to purchase a ‘debit’ card which will be presented to the conductor, who logs it into his machine, which in turn debits the cost of the fare from the card. Payment will credited into the bank account of the owner of the vehicle by 20.00 hrs the same evening
The next step in this system will be the introduction of a GPS system, which will enable owners of fleets of buses to monitor the whereabouts of their vehicles in addition to enabling them to keep a check on the number of passengers in each vehicle.
Chairman of the Central Provincial Council Transport Board, Erick Weerawardene, said that once the trial run is completed, the entire private bus service would be operated under the new system. He added uniforms would be issued for the employees operating under the new scheme.