Bus operators have been urged to do their part in ensuring that revenue from bus fare is protected, following a recent complaint that drivers were siphoning away parts of it by accepting cash from passengers.
Responding to queries by the Fiji Times, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) revealed it had carried out more than 147,000 e-ticketing card checks in the last quarter alone, in which 635 e-ticketing traffic infringement notices (TINs) were issued to drivers while 727 TINs were issued to passengers.
“As matters currently stands e-ticketing enforcement data in the last quarter of the financial year 2022/2023, shows the following e-ticketing data: (From 01 May 2023 – 31 July 2023): e-ticketing bus checks – 8729; e-ticketing card checks – 147,906; e-ticketing traffic infringement notice (TINS) issuance driver – 635; e-ticketing traffic infringement notice issuance passenger -727,” LTA said.
“Bus operators also have a role to play in securing their revenue in terms of daily fare collected and must also assist in this E-ticketing monitoring such as installing CCTV cameras; installing GPS for their buses; employing bus conductors and tightening their recruitment and selection of drivers in order to curb pilferage of fares by bus drivers.”
Complaints were aired last week by Citiline bus director Ashish Kumar of bus driver shortage made worse by absentee drivers who are undeterred by the low fines levied for taking cash from passengers.
“Every day we have at least 10 to 15 drivers who don’t come to work because they make a lot of money by taking cash since the fines were reduced to $150 from $1000 by the last government.
“This problem has become more serious since,” Mr Kumar said.
He blamed the shortage of drivers for the recent spike in bus accidents. LTA urged bus operators to upgrade their fleets and maintain their buses to the required standards.
“The bus operators need to also consider disability access as well when upgrading their fleets.
“They need to also play their role to uphold safety on our roads while the authority is doing all we can within the Law to assist all bus operators in the country,” LTA said.
