PANAJI
Running the e-bus services in Panaji and its suburbs with a cashless facility for ticketing and therefore without 'conductors' may have to wait for a considerable time with trial runs not evoking satisfactory response from users.
Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited (IPSCDL) which has tied up with the Kadamba Transport Corporation Limited (KTCL) to operate the service has said the plan will now be introduced in a staggered manner, one route at a time, on all seven.
"We've done some trial runs. The response has not been ideal. It will take some time for travellers to get used to the system and technology," said IPSCDL managing director and CEO, Sanjit Rodrigues.
Rodrigues said, IPSCDL has tied up with KTCL which has taken the decision to stagger the launch of the cashless service due to the response from passengers which has been below expectations.
The cashless service involves the use of 'Smart Transit Cards' which is mandatory. Other options include buying tickets by using the UPI mode as well as by scanning the QR code available on the e-buses and through the mobile app 'Tomok'.
Apart from the QR Code based ticketing, Tomok, also provides a facility to track the location of the e-buses in real time as well as making contactless payment for travel availed.
The 'Smart City' e-bus service was launched on July 1 initially on two intra-State routes and within a month, all seven routes both inside the city as well as some between its suburbs including ST Cruz and Bambolim were being operated by the KTCL.
The routes cover Miramar, Dona Paula, Goa University, GMC Bambolim, St Cruz and also multiple routes through the city and to Altinho. Over 40 e-buses of varying capacities -- 49, 26 and smaller 14 seaters -- are being used for the service and passengers are charged Rs 10 and Rs 20 as per the length of the ride.
