jasdooit

Dar es Salaam. The Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra) has reported that the use of the online bus fare payment system by passengers is still minimal, leading to renewed appeals for travelers to adopt digital platforms to prevent ticket scalping and ensure all fares are accurately recorded in the system.

The general manager, Habibu Suluo, stated that from December 1 to 20 this year, total ticket revenue reached Sh71 billion, with almost Sh8 billion collected via online systems and approximately Sh63 billion received in cash.

“This indicates that roughly 20 percent of travelers are purchasing tickets via the internet, whereas the majority continue to pay with cash,” Dr. Suluo stated.

He urged travelers to use digital ticketing to avoid being charged excessively and to ensure correct fare payment.

“If you’re able to transfer funds to a family member using your phone, then why not purchase your ticket via the internet? This guarantees that you pay the right price and avoid being charged extra,” he mentioned.

Dr. Suluo also urged bus operators to make payments via electronic methods so that income can be accurately tracked by the regulatory authority.

He mentioned that digital ticketing records passengers’ complete information within the system, improving responsibility and safety in public transportation services.

Dr. Suluo mentioned that Latra carried out a countrywide inspection from December 8 to 22, during which 4,405 vehicles were checked, primarily at the Mikese inspection point.

He mentioned that the initiative was a component of collaborative efforts with road safety partners to back the government’s campaign aimed at lowering traffic accidents and promoting secure travel, especially during the hectic holiday period.

“This is a crucial time where all involved parties need to collaborate to decrease traffic incidents and guarantee that people can travel securely to be with their family,” he stated.

As stated by Dr. Suluo, Latra has increased its inspections nationwide to guarantee the presence of secure and dependable transportation services during periods of heavy travel.

Inspection stations have been set up across the country to ensure adherence to license requirements and evaluate the standard of services provided to the public.

“Through these inspections, we found 349 violations. The most frequent infractions are not providing electronic tickets, not following license requirements, and certain drivers operating without i-buttons,” he stated.

Although there have been breaches, Dr Suluo mentioned that the general road safety condition remains fairly steady, with no significant accidents reported yet.

He mentioned that Latra keeps issuing emergency permits in areas experiencing a lack of transportation services, pointing out that 252 temporary permits have been issued by Latra offices throughout the country.

Offering additional information, Dr. Suluo mentioned that since the start of this month up to now, 1,978,100 passengers have used regulated bus services, matching the number of tickets sold during this time.

Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc.Syndigate.info).