Fiji Advancement Towards Modernzation

Public transportation modernises

Nov 15|17:42 pm

The new electronic ticketing fare system not only symbolises Fiji’s advancement towards modernization but is also a manifestation of it, says Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.

He said the conceptualisation and implementation of innovative systems required thinking outside the box and planning for the future.

The Prime Minister was the first to use the system when he boarded a bus today using the e-ticketing fare system at Sukuna Park and continued his journey to Adi Cakobau School where he officially launched the system.

“E-ticketing will bring transparency and accountability. The likelihood of theft of money is minimized,” Bainimarama told guests at today’s launch. 

The Prime Minister said this would mean that bus operators and various regulatory agencies will have much easier and expedited access to accurate and timely data. 

“Since the bus industry in Fiji currently serves over 65 percent of the travelling population, it is one of the most vital arms of the public transportation industry,” he said. 

On the environment front, the Prime Minister said that “e-ticketing will also mean that paper ticketing will be replaced thereby reducing litter.”

The Prime Minister also said the success of the 2009 bus fare subsidy system, which covered more than 95,000 school children nationwide with daily bus fare vouchers to travel to school, has encouraged the e-ticketing project.

“It is, therefore, appropriate that the first phase of this e-ticketing project will target school children on the subsidy programme.”

He said by the end of 2012 the entire bus travelling public will be using the new system and they will be able to obtain the smart card from Telecom Fiji Limited.

It has been revealed after a review of the bus industry in 2009 that operators lose $5 million in revenue through leakages caused by thefts, fraudulent activities and mishandling of busrevenue. 

Seeing the dependency of the travelling public on bus service, the Prime Minister said that the reduction in tariffs for the importation of buses has resulted in the easier purchase of new and modern buses for use by the travelling public.