E-ticketing rolls out for 13 more bus operators amid irregularities

Despite allegations of rampant irregularities in the e-ticketing system, the Dhaka Road Transport Owners' Association has decided to expand it by introducing the system for 13 more bus companies operating in the capital.  

The e-ticketing services will roll out for another 947 buses under 13 companies in the third phase, Khandakar Enayet Ullah, general secretary of the Dhaka Road Transport Owners' Association told a press conference Tuesday. 

The e-ticketing system, introduced to reduce passenger hassle and ensure fair ticket prices, is not yet fully operational. 

There are widespread allegations that bus operators are still overcharging passengers. 

In many cases, buses were seen not even using the Point of Sale (POS) devices to issue tickets.

Enayet Ullah stressed that they are trying their best to implement the system.

"Passengers should not pay fares without a ticket," he said.

"We are trying to restore order on the roads by improving service. Additional 10 checkers have been appointed by the association to monitor irregularities," he said.

Currently, some 3,307 buses under 59 companies in Dhaka are operating under the e-ticketing services.

From Wednesday, e-tickets will be introduced for the buses of Akah Enterprise (Sadarghat-Dhour), Victor Classic Bus Owners Association (Sadarghat-Dhour), 6 no Motijheel-Banani transport Company (Kamalapur-Natun Bazar), Green Anabir Paribahan (Signboard -Gazipur), Great Turag Transport Co Ltd (Jatrabari-Tongi station road), Anabil Suoer Ltd (Signboard -Gazipur), Raida Enterprize (Postogola-Dhour), Asmani Paribahan (Madanpur-Abdullahpur), Somoy Transport (Gulisthan-Kachpur), Boisakhi Paribahan (Savar-Natun Bazar), Roich Paribahan (Savar-Natun Bazar), Airport-Bangabandhu Avenue Minibus Owners Association (Kadamtoli-Abdullahpur), Monjil Express Ltd (Kachpur-Dhour).

The move also aims to tackle the mad race for passengers between vehicles on the same routes – a common practice among drivers of buses which has resulted in uncountable accidents and fatalities, according to Enayet Ullah.

The e-ticketing system was launched on an experimental basis in September last year and later it was introduced in most of the buses in phases.

Commuters hoped that the long-standing chaos over the fare would be resolved. But it did not take long for the same old chaos – fighting over ticket prices after boarding the bus -- to return.

Most bus companies went back to using the waybill system with complaints of overcharging kept coming. Additionally, fares are different in e-tickets as stoppages of different operators plying on the same route are different.

Passengers complain that the drivers' assistants, those who will implement this initiative, are not interested in providing tickets their requests. 

Moreover, deprived passengers cannot lodge a complaint as the phone numbers given on the tickets are found switched off.

In the first phase, 1643 buses under 30 Mirpur-route bus companies were brought under e-ticketing last November. In the second phase, 717 buses of 16 more companies were brought under the system on 10 January this year.

According to the Dhaka Transport Owners Association, about 5650 buses from 97 companies ply in Dhaka city.

Enayet Ullah claimed that the implementation of an e-ticketing system is very difficult. He said, to implement it, they have appointed 9 Special Checkers to stop irregularities and 10 more will be appointed. 

"But it will take more time to remove the irregularities with the fare," he said.