A new act is set to be enacted for the comprehensive management of the integrated circuit (IC) named Rapid Pass -- which is already in use in the country's first metro rail.
Rapid Pass is part of the government's move to introduce a unified ticketing system for all public transportation.
Although Rapid Pass was initially introduced on certain routes in state-owned Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC) buses, including Gulshan Chaka and Hatirjheel Chakrakar Bus, both under public and private management, sources said that the use of these cards has already been discontinued due to various issues.
Officials said the act will provide guidelines for all users to maintain uniformity in issuing, operating, managing, marketing and sharing earnings.
"It is also likely to phase out the use of MRT Pass, which has been in use by DMTCL [Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd] since the partial launch of MRT-6 last December, as the card's authority will now fall under one company," said an official who preferred not to be named.
He said the MRT Pass shares the same interface as the Rapid Pass and must be owned by a single agency.
Sources said the Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) has been overseeing the Rapid Pass since its inauguration by the prime minister in 2018. It serves as a clearinghouse for managing all types of ticket sales and their associated data.
However, they said other transport companies or authorities can utilise a single journey card similar to those used in the MRT.
Officials said the Rapid Pass, also referred to as a stored value card and smart card, will cater to a diverse range of users in the future, providing the payment scopes for various types of bills by using a single card.
Therefore, the new act will offer comprehensive guidance for all users as well as operators.
The DTCA has already begun the process of forming a special-purpose company to oversee all types of activities.
The officials said all public transport operators, including Bangladesh Railway, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation and Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority, will be required to sign agreements with the company in order to use the cards.
The clearing house maintains a daily record of sales and uses of IC cards. This information is then shared with clearing house banks to facilitate the transfer of the actual revenue amount to the accounts of the respective operators.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has thus far provided both technical and financial support for the introduction of MRTs in the city, is assisting the DTCA in enhancing its capacity to establish a special company for the clearing house. This effort is intended to implement a standardised ticketing system across all modes of transportation.
smunima@yahoo.com