The metro rail is yet to ensure smooth ticketing system for metro-rail commuters for inadequate groundwork before launching the first phase of the mass rapid transit (MRT) line-06.
Though some problem in MRT ticket issuance was addressed primarily, sources said, commuters still undergo trouble getting both single-journey ticket and special passes-MRT Pass and Rapid Pass.
The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Ltd (DMTCL) launched MRT-06 operation partially on December 28 with only two ticketing systems-store value and single journey.
MRT Pass and Rapid Pass are the store-value system but its flexibility in offering various services like weekly and monthly tickets was not incorporated in the system before its launch.
The single-journey ticket, which has been mostly issued since the inauguration, is a non-flexible system as its entry points and destinations are fixed with no other option for commuters.
As a result, only 7,250 passes could be sold when 90,000 commuters rode the MRT up to January 08.
Station sources said single-journey tickets have since posted the highest sale as the ride was mostly for enjoyment purposes.
But commuters complained that as not programmed in chips and memory of vending machines, different design currency notes of same denominations like 500 or 100 are rejected.
Even the same design notes with signatures of different governors or secretaries were not integrated in the machines that take longer time collecting tickets.
Uttara-Agargaon commuters also face problems in buying daily tickets since the issuance of MRT Pass and Rapid Pass were not made easily available.
Single-journey tickets are valid for one hour only and commuters cannot avoid queues outside ticket counters or vending machines twice a day for not having round-trip facility the same day.
Getting the pass, some riders alleged that they often cannot wait till the end of MRT operation till 12 noon as they travel in the first hour of the operation time.
Although the DMTCL has an online form to register for MRT Pass, it is yet to introduce a payment system. Even filing in the form is also not possible.
Commuters have to take the print and fill it in by hand before handing it to ticket counters.
"It wasn't possible for me to collect MRT pass two/three hours after I had completed my MRT ride," said Rahim Sheikh who uses this corridor to go to Motijheel almost from day one.
He said it took over a week to get the pass finally.
Officials said initially many problems were faced by both DMTCL technical people and commuters due to inexperience in machine-based ticketing system.
DMTCL secretary Mohammad Abdur Rouf cited the examples of using currency notes and said regular commuters have now learnt that a machine will refuse to accept Tk 1,000 not even Tk 500 like big notes when single ticket for Tk 60 is sought from the machine.
Initially, they faced unnecessary delays in ticket issuance from machine as commuters repeatedly placed the refused notes and faced machines hanging out.
About the delay in online ticket issuance, DMTCL managing director MAN Siddique said they are trying to link with the gateway of Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority (DTCA) to launch the service.
To bring the entire ticketing system more integrated, he said, more time will be needed.
"Let us give more time as we have just started… If linking with DTCA gateway takes time, DMTCL will open its own gateway," he told the FE.
DTCA, the MRT regulator, is said to have a gateway being a clearing house of IC card named Rapid Pass which has been introduced in some transport since 2017.
However, it has taken several days time to activate the Rapid Pass to be integrated with the MRT system.
According to MRT consultants and experts, various types of tickets like day ticket, weekly, monthly, three-monthly or even yearly MRT ticket are in use globally.
It can be introduced in the MRT Pass, they said.
But single-journey tickets cannot be converted to round trip or day trip due to lack of flexibility in it as machine chips are programmed with starting and destination points only.
According to a reliable source, single-journey ticket will continue for irregular commuters until the entire Uttara-Motijheel corridor is not under operation.
