Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 8: Dakshina Kannada Bus Owners Association, which had introduced 'Chalo' prepaid travel cards in the city buses has introduced a system under which the passengers can tap their 'Chalo' cards and obtain their tickets through an automatic ticket machine. This information was provided by the president of the association, Jayasheel Adyantaya, who addressed a press conference.

"In the first phase, the machines have been installed in city buses bearing No. 27 which move between State Bank and Mangaladevi. The city buses here have over ten stages. In the coming days, automatic electronic ticket machines will be introduced in buses bearing No. 5, 29 and 18," he revealed.

Passengers using 'Chalo' cards will get ten percent rebate on the bus fare. The association has set a target of covering 90 percent of passengers under the Chalo cards. These cards can be recharged in 45 recharge centres in the city and also with the help of bus conductors, he narrated.

'Chalo' app which is applicable for bus transport is being used in 33 cities across India. Already about 200 private buses have been coordinated to a single live tracking. The passengers will be able to check the current location of the bus and its arrival time. This cuts short the time of waiting at the bus stand, he explained.

Vice president of the association, Ganesh N Shetty, general secretary Vijayakrishna Putran, treasurer Satyaraj Shetty, joint secretary Rajkumar, former presidents Jayaram Shekha, Nelson Pereira, Dilraj Alva as well as Amruth and Nitesh Jain of 'Chalo' company were present.

Jayasheel Adyantaya also said that towards supporting digitalization and giving fillip to cashless travel, Chalo cards would be issued to students. Students can use the cards and get 60 percent rebate in the fare, he said. He also said that the association will visit schools and colleges and arrange to recharge the cards of the students there.