The E-ticketing system has started well in many areas however there are some teething problems which is affecting people in some areas.
More than 424,000 people have registered for the eTransport cards and all buses have e-ticketing machines.
Vodafone Fiji confirms that machines in all buses were installed and tested.
However some passengers are facing great difficulty this morning as the E-ticketing system became compulsory from yesterday.
We are receiving text messages and reports from passengers who are saying that some bus drivers are not letting students go in buses if they do not have eTransport cards.
The drivers are doing this although a statement was released last night that the students should be allowed to travel if they do not have cards as the cards are still being distributed.
Reports are also coming in where a driver pressed Stage 22 instead of Stage 2 for a passenger, and the amount deducted was $9.67 instead of $1.11.
We are also getting reports that there are no buses stopping in Makoi and Muanikoso although people can clearly see empty buses going past. About 60 students are currently waiting at FTG however no buses have stopped for more than 1 hour.
No reason is being given on why the buses are not stopping.
Reports have come in where no receipt was given by a Fiji Transport bus and the passenger was overcharged, a Pacific Transport bus machine could not read the card this morning and the passenger could not travel, a bus company in Navua is not picking up students who do not have cards and a passenger said that he had $10 in his card however the Narere Transport bus machine read that he had zero dollars.
Most of these issues are relating to driver error or dealing with bus operators.
There is some good news for Tacirua Transport passengers as we have been receiving positive feedbacks that the machines are all working and the drivers are very friendly.
The passengers say that the service is now better.
Fiji Bus Operators Association General Secretary, Rohit Latchan says they are having an emergency meeting at 11am today and will then clarify all issues raised.
We have also sent the issues raised to the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Vodafone Fiji.
These issues are currently being looked at.
Sayed-Khaiyum is expected to comment later today.
