North Commuters support review of E-ticketing system
Rural bus commuters in Vanua Levu have welcomed the review of the electronic-ticketing services.
The proposed review of the e-ticketing services offered to customers, especially in rural areas follow concerns raised with the Minister for Public Works Department and Transport, Ro Filipe Tuisawau.
Ro Filipe said the ministry had received numerous complaints about the unavailability of e-ticketing machines and outlets in rural areas.
Drekeniwai Village headman, Lepani Rova, supported the decision to review because of the unavailability of e-transport top-up machines in rural areas. Mr Rova said no passenger should be turned away from assessing public transport if he/she did not have sufficient funds on e-transport cards. “The cash option should always be there to accommodate travellers with less or no balance on their bus cards,” he said. Nayarabale Village headman, Lote Turaga, said the changes in relation to e-ticketing service was timely.
Mr Turaga said the time duration of using bus cards on a busy schedule also contributed to some people preferring the old cash system.
He said there were occasions when the etransport machine malfunctioned leading to further delays and trip disappointments.
Mr Turaga believed both options (cash and e-ticketing) must be allowed for a bus traveller at all times.
In past instances, it is claimed some drivers in the Northern Division were booked for using their personal cards to tap a passenger’s fare.
Mr Turaga claimed drivers were also slammed with $1000 booking fine for using their cards, despite having the intention to serve the public because of e-ticketing faults.