The Vodafone E‑ticketing system that is installed in buses is capable of handling the tap on‑tap off system.
Head of Vodafone E‑Commerce and Corporate Affairs Shailendra Prasad has confirmed this saying that if the government decides to implement it, they are ready to transition to tap on ‑tap off system.
Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum had earlier in the year said that the government wants to eventually implement the tap on ‑ tap off system.
Fijivillage has raised the issue regarding the loss of money below $1.40 in disposable cards that will affect low income earners.
Prasad says that is why passengers are advised to register to get a permanent card since the balance in a permanent card never expires nor is there any fee applicable.
He says full adult fare applies on disposable cards immaterial of the passenger type and if people want to benefit from the fare concession they must register and collect the right category of permanent card that allows them concession fare.
We had asked that if drivers are not permitted to accept cash, how the money from the purchase of disposable cards will be handled.
Prasad says there is a clear distinction and cash is not allowed for payment of bus fare.
He says the sale of disposable cards is treated as a separate stock item outside the E‑ticketing system and once people purchase the disposable card, the payment of fare is through the disposable card and not with cash.
Prasad says the E‑ticketing process is no different from how passengers travel now, the only change is that instead of paying fare using cash, the passenger taps the card to pay.
The process is as follows: passenger boards the bus and tells driver of his/her travel destination, the driver enters the number of stage this equates to and this automatically displays the full fare that passenger will be charged for the trip and the passenger taps card to pay the fare.
Once the card is tapped, a ticket is printed instantly which the passenger must collect to verify the fare charges and balance remaining in the card.
The same happens when they top up their card at a top up agent, they get a receipt which states how much they have topped up and the new balance in the card.
Prasad says the system has been in place for two months from the 1st of August till now.
More than 30,000 people have used the system and over 200,000 transactions have taken place in the transition phase from 1st August to 29th September.
He says all is working as per system requirements.
E‑ticketing becomes compulsory from tomorrow.
