The suspension of the e-ticketing system has caused chaos again in public transport in different parts of the country, including the capital city.
The e-ticketing system was introduced in September of 2022 aimed at bringing discipline to transport sector, ensuring transparency, and easing burden on public transport users.
But the e-ticketing system has broken down following the dissolution of the previous committee of Dhaka Road Transport Owners Association. The new committee has yet to resume service. As a result, chaos over fare collection has returned to public transport.
Md Azim, a resident of Pallabi in Mirpur 11, told this correspondent that the sudden suspension of the e-ticketing system has brought chaos to public transport. “The authority should continue providing such service in the transport sector.”
Preferring anonymity, a source at owners' association, said that bus owners have expressed dissatisfaction with the e-ticketing system. In many cases, bus helpers show reluctance to use digital machines,
claiming that they get less benefit from this system. It has reportedly caused suspension of the system.
Passengers have alleged that bus conductors are overcharging them without tickets in return. The practice of boarding passengers only from designated counters, a key part of the e-ticketing system, has also ceased with its suspension.
Despite reform initiatives in different sectors, the road transport sector has seen little in the way of significant efforts toward improvement. Reports of buses stopping indiscriminately and overloading passengers beyond capacity are once again rampant.
Habibur Rahman, a private jobholder who lives in Banasree, has complained that transport owners have compromised passenger seating and safety.
Dispute between passengers and bus conductors or helpers over extra fares and other irregularities has become a regular phenomenon, further worsening the challenging daily commute for the people.
The suspension of the e-ticketing system has triggered widespread anger and frustration among commuters.
Leaders involved with the transport sector are urging the authorities concerned to restore discipline on the roads and prevent recurrence of the previous issues by reinstating the e-ticketing system that had significantly eased people's sufferings.
