PANAJI
Arguably the smartest initiative of the capital’s smart city mission the e-bus service operated by the Kadamba Transport Corporation Ltd (KTCL) is being progressively scaled up and a ‘smart transit card’ launched on Wednesday.
Additionally the ‘Tummoc’ digital app, which can be downloaded from Google Play Store as well as Apple Store, for digitally booking tickets and paying fares was also launched.
Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) CEO and MD, Sanjit Rodrigues, IAS, told the media at a press conference that the idea is to eventually run these e-bus services without a ‘conductor’ on it.
“You have to apply for the ‘smart transit card’ which is a lifetime card and costs Rs 150. These will work like debit cards and passengers can pay for their journey by tapping in and tapping out on a device in the bus,” Rodrigues said.
Managing Director of KTCL, Derrick Netto, who was also present added that the smart card can also be used on all other services of the Corporation across the State.
“Conductors on those buses will swipe it on their PoS machines,” Netto added.
Tickets can be booked via the Tummoc app as well.
The smart cards will be issued at Kiosks set up at the Panaji Bus Stand, Panaji Ferry wharf, Panaji Market, Miramar beach and at the Goa Medical Hospital in Bambolim where the cards will also be recharged.
Meanwhile, the statutory concessions for students, senior citizens and persons with disability currently in force will also apply for the e-bus services and will be incorporated in the smart card.
The e-bus journey fares in the city are fixed at Rs 10 and Rs 20, depending on the length of the route, Rodrigues said, adding that 161 bus stops have been notified on all the seven routes.
“The routes and bus stops have been designed in such a way that no one will have to walk more than 150 meters to get to their destination if they choose to use the service,” Rodrgiues said.
According to him, 68,603 passengers used the service in July at an average of 2,213 passengers per day.
This month, the footfall is even higher with almost 49,000 passengers using the service in just 14 days, he added.
Traffic enforcement
Rodrigues said, haphazaard parking on some of the intra-city roads hampered the smooth flow of these e-buses. He said real time data is being collated related to time taken by the buses per route and a proper plan will be presented to the traffic police, CCP as well as other authorities so that this impediment is resolved.
“It delays the journey. Typically a 23 minute journey through the city gets delayed by about four minutes. Parking will have to be streamlined on these roads,” Rodrgiues said.
