The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited (DMTCL) has announced plans to introduce a QR code system for single-journey tickets.
In a notice issued today (17 December), DMTCL stated due to the surge in passengers, there has been a significant delay in issuing single-journey tickets at peak hours.
Additionally, many passengers have failed to return the tickets after their journeys, leading to a shortage and rendering some tickets unusable, reads the notice.
To address these issues, the DMTCL is expediting the procurement of additional single-journey tickets and simultaneously exploring the implementation of a QR code system as an alternative.
The authority hopes to have the situation improved by the end of December.
While speaking to The Business Standard, Khondaker Ehteshamul Kabir, company secretary of DMTCL, explained that a dedicated machine will be installed to issue QR code-embedded slips.
“Passengers will be required to purchase QR code-embedded slips from dedicated machines. These slips will be scanned at entry and exit points, allowing for a seamless journey,” he said.
He emphasised that this is an early stage project and they are currently seeking a company to install and maintain the new technology.
He also mentioned that they have already procured 20,000 new single-journey cards from Japan to address the immediate shortage.
“Another 20,000 cards are expected to come by this month.”
On 14 October, DMTCL Managing Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf announced that 2,68,441 single-journey tickets had been issued at the stations.
Of these, nearly 2,00,000 cards had been lost, and 6,881 cards had become unusable due to damage. As a result, there has been a shortage of tickets at the stations.
