Electronic ticket machines for SLTB

Sri Lanka Transport Board (SLTB) will import 1,000 electronic ticket machines from India to replace the old ticket boxes. This will prevent bus conductors from engaging in irregularities and malpractices, particularly, the failure to issue tickets.

Transport Deputy Minister Rohana Kumara Dissanayake said that tickets issued by the new electronic ticket machines would indicate the number of the bus, the distance of travel, destination, departure time and the correct fare.

He said that bus conductors have already been trained in the use of the new machines while some of them are already using the new electronic ticket machines. Therefore, a conductor would have no problems in attending to his duties, as the new machine could issue tickets quickly while preventing any chances of fraud.

He said that the SLTB incurs a huge daily loss because commuters are not issued with tickets. So, this initiative will increase ticket sales and increase revenue.

Travellers will not have to face any difficulties with the new system," he said.

"There will be transparency in ticket sales. Conductors will also save time and energy as the machines will be faster and easier to operate and will provide minute-by-minute data of ticket sales," he said.

"The electronic ticket machines will be equipped with latest technology with which data of ticket sales can be monitored through the internet," he said. IR