Tanzania to start e-ticketing for public transport 'daladalas'

Dar es Salaam. The Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra), in collaboration with the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), is set to introduce e-ticketing for commuter buses, popularly known as daladalas, in an effort to promote cashless transactions.

Latra road transport director Johansen Kahatano told The Citizen that the two entities are in the preliminary stages of setting up a system that will later be connected to the bus rapid transit (BRT) systems.

“Once the new platform is up and running, daladalas will be integrated with the BRT system, allowing commuters to use smart cards on both daladalas and BRT buses,” he said.

The move is meant to enhance efficiency, improve operations, prevent commuters from being overcharged, do away with touts, promote cashless payments and enable the government to collect taxes.

Mr Kahatano further explained that the system will enable daladala owners and drivers to receive money based on the number of trips made or operations, unlike the current situation whereby drivers have a fixed amount that they are required to hand over to bus owners on a daily basis.

According to him, Latra is encouraging daladala owners operating on specific routes to form groups or associations so that commuters can pay the right fares without arguing with bus conductors and drivers and also to prevent drivers from shortening routes.

Dar es Salaam Commuter Buses Owners Association (Darcoboa) acting secretary-general Shifaya Lema said the decision to introduce e-ticketing for daladalas is not a new concept as it is already highlighted in Latra’s regulations.

He added that Darcoboa has for a long time wanted an e-ticketing system to be established because drivers sometimes fail to hand over cash to bus owners.

 “If the e-ticketing system is effective, it will benefit owners, drivers and conductors and the government will earn taxes. The most important thing is for Latra to contract reliable and reputable companies to collect fares,” Mr Lema said.

He urged Latra to focus on creating awareness among daladala owners before implementing e-ticketing so that people and operators do not see it as a new thing.

“Even in the past, a few daladala owners, especially those with large buses, introduced e-ticketing, but unfortunately it failed and we don’t know why.”

A commuter, Mr Juma James, said that e-ticketing has not been effectively implemented to upcountry buses therefore it is not appropriate to introduce the system to commuter buses.

“Latra should first strengthens its e-ticketing efforts to long distance and BRT’s buses because so far, BRT do not use smart cards and most of the upcountry buses still provide tickets manually,” he said.

Mr Juma added that Latra should note that not all commuters are aware about the e-ticketing system and how it works.

“It is also important for the authority (Latra) to create awareness before considering to establishing the system. Modes of operations, how it will work in case one is connecting a bus and how school children utilize the system without being bothered by conductors,” he said.