As many as 30 bus companies in Dhaka's Mirpur have started collecting fares from passengers through e-ticketing system on Sunday morning.
Passengers were seen collecting their tickets and riding the buses. They appreciated this initiative telling that this has reduced the bickering between passengers and helpers.
Bangladesh Road Transport Owners Association Secretary General Khandkar Enayet Ullah confirmed the development to Dhaka Tribune.
He said all buses in Dhaka's Mirpur region will operate under e-ticketing service from Sunday.
Later, this service will be introduced to all buses in Dhaka by January 31, 2023, and surrounding areas by February 28.
He said bus passengers have been complaining about the extra fares for a long time. Therefore, to solve this problem, the authorities first launched this e-ticketing service on eight buses in Mirpur region on September 22.
After observing that the buses were making profits, the authorities decided to extend the service to all the buses that ply the Mirpur route.
Khandaker Enayet also said that sufficient manpower has been appointed to manage the e-ticketing system in all buses on the Mirpur route.
A monitoring cell comprising two officials has been set up in Dhaka to resolve the complaints and problems of passengers, Khandaker Enayet added.
He said that three hotline numbers will be used to report complaints. The hotline numbers are 01618933531, 01618936185, and 01870146422.
He said the introduction of the e-ticketing system, will reduce additional fare collection, unfair bus competition, and passenger harassment. Besides, drivers and laborers will be brought under payroll.
There are 30 bus companies in Mirpur. A total of 60 bus companies in the capital and 37 bus companies in the suburbs accumulated to 97 bus companies.
Some 5,650 buses under 97 companies run in Dhaka and its suburbs.
Among them, 3,014 buses ply within the capital. The rest branch out to Dhaka and surrounding districts and upazilas.
