Bus tickets out, pre-paid bus fare card system in

Irangika RANGE

A new pre-paid card system will be introduced among private bus passengers in lieu of bus tickets from next month, Lanka Private Bus Owners' Association President Gemunu Wijeratne said.

"Passengers can pay the bus fare with the pre-paid card which is re-loadable. The bus conductor will deduct the fare of the journey from the card using an electronic machine device," Wijeratne said.

"The pre-paid card is re-loadable at dealer points. This will also solve the problem of shortage of change and coins," he said.

He said this pre-paid card system will be initially introduced in the 163 (Battaramulla-Dehiwela) and 200 (Gampaha-Colombo) and 176 (Nugegoda-Hettiyawatta) bus routes.