The Lanka Private Bus Owners Association (LPBOA) will introduce electronic bus ticket machines before 2010. The electronic bus ticket machines are expected to cut down on the losses incurred by private bus operators and the public.
The 6000 electronic bus ticket machines will be brought down from Hong Kong at a cost of Rs 35,000 per machine.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader President, LPBOA, Gemunu Wijeratne said sample bus ticket machines were brought down from Hong Kong and India to be tested in the country. "We are very happy with the electronic bus ticket machine from Hong Kong as it has many features. The Hong Kong bus ticket machine has the GPRS facility. This machine operates on a card system. A passenger has to buy a card, which is the size of a visa card, and give it to the bus conductor when he gets into the bus. The conductor will run the card through the bus ticket machine and give it back to the passenger. The card will have the reload facility and passengers can get a reload from any main bus stands or shops when the card runs out of credit," Wijeratne said.
According to Wijeratne this machine will benefit the public and the private bus owners as conductors will not be able to cheat them any longer.
"There are an estimated five million people who travel by bus in the Western Province. Conductors take an estimated 25% of a day’s earning from private bus owners by not issuing tickets to passengers," Wijeratne said.
He added that the LPBOA hopes to get a bank to sponsor the bus ticket machines. "Out of the 100% earnings per day the LPBOA will give the bank that sponsors the ticket machines a 5% commission. Which means they will in turn get back the money they invested in the bus ticket machines," Wijeratne said.
Sunday Leader
The 6000 electronic bus ticket machines will be brought down from Hong Kong at a cost of Rs 35,000 per machine.
Speaking to The Sunday Leader President, LPBOA, Gemunu Wijeratne said sample bus ticket machines were brought down from Hong Kong and India to be tested in the country. "We are very happy with the electronic bus ticket machine from Hong Kong as it has many features. The Hong Kong bus ticket machine has the GPRS facility. This machine operates on a card system. A passenger has to buy a card, which is the size of a visa card, and give it to the bus conductor when he gets into the bus. The conductor will run the card through the bus ticket machine and give it back to the passenger. The card will have the reload facility and passengers can get a reload from any main bus stands or shops when the card runs out of credit," Wijeratne said.
According to Wijeratne this machine will benefit the public and the private bus owners as conductors will not be able to cheat them any longer.
"There are an estimated five million people who travel by bus in the Western Province. Conductors take an estimated 25% of a day’s earning from private bus owners by not issuing tickets to passengers," Wijeratne said.
He added that the LPBOA hopes to get a bank to sponsor the bus ticket machines. "Out of the 100% earnings per day the LPBOA will give the bank that sponsors the ticket machines a 5% commission. Which means they will in turn get back the money they invested in the bus ticket machines," Wijeratne said.
Sunday Leader
