Dhaka: After Metrorail, BRTC shuttle bus, Rapid Pass will be launched in Dhaka city transport in March next year. As a result, through this pass passengers can seamlessly pay all bills in Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) on one card.
Bus Route Rationalization Project Director Dhruv Alam confirmed this information.
Through this, as per the government’s plan, the residents of Dhaka took a step towards one stop payment system for utility bills, road and bridge tolls, shopping at supershops, student salary payments.
The Rapid Pass currently offers 10 percent discount on every metro rail journey. The value of the card is 400 taka, of which 200 taka security, 200 taka balance. Card validity is lifetime.
The authorities said that at present the card can be issued or recharged from selected Dutch Bangla Bank branches. Recharge can be done from the ticket offices of all Metrorail stations.
At the same time, from November 1 to November 30 (one month long), ‘Rapid Pass’ is being sold at various busy places, bus stops and metro rail stations in Dhaka city. Online rapidpass.com.bd Registration can be done from the website.
In this regard, project director Dhruv Alam said that since November 1, we have sold about 2,000 tickets so far through the campaign. Rapid Pass is in high demand.
The Ministry of Road Transport says that this automatic system will ensure collection of transport fares. At the same time, it will generate origin and destination (Origin-Destination or OD) data, which can be used for realistic strategic urban transport planning.
Passengers happy with Rapid Pass
At present, passengers can travel on Metrorail and BRTC shuttle buses with Rapid Pass. Shahriar Hossain, a resident of Mirpur, said that the advantage of the rapid pass is that one does not have to spend extra time to cut the ticket. Besides, additional metrorails are available for advance and last journey. But one should add the facility of easy recharge from claim, development or cash.
Ashish Kumar De, general secretary of the National Committee for the Protection of Sea, Road and Railways, and transport expert, told BanglaNews that regular passengers of public transport will be freed from the obstacles they used to face in purchasing tickets with the launch of Rapid Pass. At the same time, passengers’ time will also be saved. This initiative of DTCA in building a Smart Bangladesh announced by the Prime Minister is undoubtedly commendable.
However, this purpose will be successful only if the things that are being said at the beginning are properly implemented, said this transport expert.
When asked about this, Bus Route Rationalization Project Director Dhruv Alam told BanglaNews that the work of upgrading our website is going on. Then some benefits will be added.
Bangladesh Time: 1818 hours, November 12, 2023
NB/SIA
