Public buses to initiate Metro Card comes with Pokhara’s smart city dream

Published On: August 16, 2019 03:13 PM NPT By: Bipana Thapa


KATHMANDU, Aug 16: Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC) has taken an initiative to operate the e-ticketing system on public buses from August 18, 2019.

With the dream of making Pokhara a smart city, PMC has informed that the system will function through  800 vehicles operating within the city and that 300 thousand smart cards will be distributed within four years.

The metro card was successfully tested by PMC Mayor Man Bahadur GC and Deputy Mayor Manju Devi Gurung on August 9, 2019. Thirteen buses routed from Simpani to Himlayan Eye Hospital were tested for e-ticketing system on last Friday.

The portable device issues a receipt as a passenger swipes the card. The receipt shows a passenger’s travel details including date, route, bus number, and fare.

According to Gangalal Subedi, Information Officer at Pokhara Metropolitan City (PMC), Om Development Bank (ODB) will be issuing a metro card at Rs. 100 with Rs. 100 balance.  The metro smart card can be used at a public bus. People can visit the nearest branch of ODB and get their card.

“Those using the metro card, in the beginning, will be offered a certain discount for a limited time period to encourage other users”, Subedi added.

How to receive a metro card?

Anyone going to take a metro card has to take a passport size photo and a photocopy of any identity revealing document. He/She has to pay Rs.100. Balance ranges from Rs.100-Rs.1000 and can be recharged with the help of an assistant driver.

How does it work?

The assistant bus driver will have the device on which anyone entering the bus will swipe the card and repeat the same while getting off the bus.

 

 


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