For transparency, private bus operators told to use e-ticketing machines

The Transport Department has made it mandatory for private bus operators to use electronic ticketing machines (ETMs) to ensure transparency, accountability and efficient fare collection. The introduction of these machines will also promote cashless transactions and enhance passenger experience. These machines are already being used in the Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) buses.

The private bus operators, however, seem reluctant to adopt the machines. “Some operators have expressed their reservation about using the electronic ticketing machine. We will shortly call a meeting of private operators to decide how to go about it,” said Rajesh Prashar, president of the Private Bus Operators Association.

As per the guidelines issued by the department for the adoption of the electronic ticketing machines, passengers should receive electronic tickets via SMS, email, or mobile app and the operators should maintain a record of transactions, fare collected and ticket sale for inspection. The ETMs should be GPS-enabled and connected to the Internet and machines should support multiple payment modes. Also, the ETMs should display the fare details, route information and transaction history.

Even as private bus operators are yet to make up their mind on the ETMs, they want the department to implement the “assurances given by Transport Minister Mukesh Agnihotri last year”.

“So many private operators have approached the department to allow them to run smaller buses on loss-making routes instead of big ones but were not permitted,” claimed Prashar. “Also, our demand to raise the minimum fare, which is Rs 5 for the past 20 years, isn’t being heard. Nowhere in the country the minimum fare is less than Rs 15,” he added.