Bus metro society for using smart cards for BRTS travel

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 22

The Punjab Bus Metro Society (PBMS) initiated a drive to make public aware of smart cards for travel on metro buses being run under the Bus Rapid Transport System in city. Employees of the PBMS set up canopies near metro bus stations to convince people to use services of the metro bus.

Inderjit Singh Chawla, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), BRTS, said: “We have initiated a drive to make the public aware of facilities being offered by the BRTS on smart card. We offer 20 per cent discount to card users. If someone uses the smart card, he/she will have to pay less as compared to other modes of transport. Moreover, it provides more convenient ride experience to passengers.”

BRTS authorities have issued more than 17,000 smart cards till date. Smart card holders need not have paper ticket as they can punch the card before boarding the bus. The card can be recharged online.

Narinder Singh, a daily passenger, said: “I travel daily from the bus stand to Khalsa College. Earlier, we had to stand in queues to get tickets. Now, we can just punch the smart card at enter or exit station. It is very useful. It saves time and can be easily recharged.”

Inderjit Singh Chawla said: “We need more passengers than the present figure of 25,000 to 30,000 riders per day. We have to attract those who commute on two-wheelers or auto-rickshaws. We are providing better services on lesser fare.”

Earlier the BRTS authorities rganised camps in educational institutes alongside the BRTS corridor and issued smart cards to students and faculty members of various institutions.