The electronic ticketing system in ferry ghats of the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Corporation (BIWTC) has failed to click due to technical problems and non-cooperation of operators.
Sources said, due to these, the Corporation has cancelled the pilot project on introducing e-ticketing system on Paturia-Daulatdia and Paturia-Kazirhaat routes officially.
However, officials said, the pilot project was stopped for introducing 'Rapid Pass' in the ferry ghats as part of the government's move to ensure universal ticketing system for all transports.
According to sources, since e-ticketing was introduced in September 2015, ferry ghat operators have been creating problems in issuing a number of tickets against each vehicle.
Though only one e-ticket is supposed to be issued against each vehicle, the operators issued four tickets for every transaction while boarding the ferry to deposit those at different stages, they said.
There was also a problem in fixing up fares for vehicles having different weights as there was no axle load weighing machine.
According to the rule, the fare for each truck or lorry carrying overweighted goods will be increased by Tk 120 for Paturia-Daulatdia and Tk 150 for Paturia-Kajirhaat routes.
There was also problem for differences in fares of peak and off hours.
Admitting problems in using e-tickets in ferry ghats, BIWTC Chairman Mohammad Mizanur Rahman said they face coordination problems in handling manual and electronic systems as the latter was not fully developed.
"We do not have smooth facilities like those in developed countries. We have to maintain tickets manually as well as electronically for which the problems arose," he told the FE over phone.
The chairman, however, said the pilot project was the first phase of introducing 'Rapid Pass' and the BIWTC is now working with the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) to start the second phase.
The BIWTC had taken the move to introduce e-tickets to lessen the time of operation and make the waterways services smooth.
Sources said the BIWTC maintains usual practice of issuing four copies of tickets for use by passengers, ferry, office and accounts and it has tried to issue e-tickets without any hassle.
For that reason, the operators often keep ferry services halted for hours until all sections give clearance getting their respective copies
"They usually create problem in issuing extra e-ticket against a vehicle showing mechanical problem. When the number of tickets is not found to be the same in all sections, they do not give clearance," said a victim.
He said in e-ticketing system, there is hardly any scope of pilferage of money or earning extra.
