The ongoing shortage of single-journey metro cards is causing significant inconvenience for passengers. Many metro stations have run out of single-journey cards, forcing passengers to abandon their travel plans. Adding to the crisis, the supply of permanent cards has also been drastically reduced. At present, the Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has only 30,000 single-journey cards in stock, far below the current demand. Although 120,000 additional cards are expected to arrive by the end of January, officials believe that the shortage will persist.
The shortage has been attributed to a lack of passenger awareness about reusing cards and issues with malfunctioning cards. To address the crisis, DMTCL is taking several steps to ease the situation. Apart from expediting the procurement of new cards, the company is preparing to introduce a QR code-based paper ticket system for single-journey travel. This new system will allow passengers to scan a QR code on a paper ticket to access metro services, offering a convenient alternative to the plastic cards.
Work to install the necessary machines for the QR code system at metro stations is already underway. DMTCL plans to implement the paper ticket system within the next month and a half. The system is expected to significantly alleviate the current crisis and improve passenger convenience.
Despite introducing paper tickets, DMTCL will continue to offer plastic cards for single-journey passengers. The combination of these systems aims to meet the growing demand and ensure smoother operations for metro commuters. Officials hope that the new QR code-based system, similar to those used in other countries, will be more efficient and easier for passengers to use.
By addressing the card shortage through innovative measures, DMTCL is working to restore convenience and accessibility for its growing number of metro users.
Source: Tezzfeed
