CAPTION: Foneology director James Trusler, left, demonstrates the use of the new E-Ticketing console box while LTA media officer Alfred Wiliame, KBL executive chairman Nisar Ali Shah and Vodafone head of corporate affairs and manager M-PAiSA Shailendra Prasad look on. Photo: SHALENDRA PRASAD.
By SHALENDRA PRASAD
Monday, February 18, 2013. The much anticipated E-Ticketing service has gone live in the western division following the official launch by Vodafone Fiji and stakeholders at a function on Saturday last week at the Tanoa Waterfront Hotel in Lautoka.
While launching the service, Vodafone head of corporate affairs Shailendra Prasad highlighted the numerous benefits of the new service in which Vodafone has invested heavily.
“Vodafone has invested around $10 million in this project which will bring about transparency and data will be available for operators and government as well during times when decisions need to be made on bus fare increases and other important issues as the system will enable the government to realize the true value of the local bus industry,” Mr Prasad said.
“Operators will be able to download data is excel files as well for their own analytical assessments and sales graphs.”
Sharing similar sentiments, Nisar Ali Shah, executive chairman of KBL Buses said his company is fully supportive of the new system which will bring about more efficiency and savings as well.
“Apart from the E-Ticketing service, the new GPS system will allow us to know where our buses are and what speed they are travelling in,” Mr Shah said.
He said fuel is a major part of the entire bus industry operational expenses and through the new system a lot of savings can be seen.
Mr Shah has a fleet of 32 modern buses and all of them are now equipped with the E-Ticket console boxes.
“The new system has also saved us so much time as counting the daily taking went up to 10 o’clock in the night and everything is balanced within minutes now with the new system in place,” Mr Shah added.
Land Transport Authority media officer Alfred Wiliame said the project is a significant milestone and a great leap forward for the local bus industry.
“This is a culmination of a lot of hard work, sacrifice and willingness of the operators and stakeholders. We are now ready to roll out the service in the northern division in a week.”
Mr Wiliame said under the LTA Act, it is now compulsory for all operators to comply with the new E-Ticketing system before March 1 and those who fail to do so will be dealt with accordingly.
He also thanked Vodafone, Fiji Bus Operators Association and Foneology for making the project a reality.
Foneology director James Trusler said his team of technicians are now moving around the western division and training bus company staff and drivers on how to use the new system.
“People carrying smart phones will even be able to track the bus location soon via the GSP system and this will make life very easy for passengers as well,” Mr Trusler said.
For more pictures, click here:-
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.480747311962706.95993.131483256889115&type=3
