Low Digital Payment Adoption Hampers Bus Fare Collection System
Dar es Salaam – The Land Transport Regulatory Authority (Latra) has raised concerns over persistently low adoption of online bus fare payment systems, urging passengers to embrace digital platforms to combat ticket touting and ensure accurate fare collection.
Latra director general Habibu Suluo revealed that between December 1 and 20 this year, total fare collections reached Sh71 billion. Of this amount, only Sh8 billion was paid through online platforms, while approximately Sh63 billion was collected in cash.
"This means only about 20 percent of passengers are buying tickets online, while the majority still pay in cash," Dr Suluo stated.
The regulatory chief encouraged passengers to adopt online ticket purchasing to prevent overcharging and guarantee accurate fare payment.
"If you can send money to a relative through your phone, why not buy your ticket online? This ensures you pay the correct fare and are not overcharged," he explained.
Dr Suluo also called on bus operators to ensure payments are processed through electronic systems, enabling proper revenue monitoring by the regulator.
He noted that online ticketing captures passengers’ complete details in the system, enhancing accountability and security in public transport operations.
Nationwide Inspection Exercise Uncovers Violations
Dr Suluo disclosed that Latra conducted a nationwide inspection exercise from December 8 to 22, examining 4,405 vehicles, with most inspections taking place at the Mikese inspection station.
The exercise formed part of collaborative efforts with road safety stakeholders to support the government’s campaign to reduce road accidents and ensure safe travel, particularly during the festive season.
"This is a critical period when all stakeholders must work together to reduce road accidents and ensure citizens travel safely to meet their loved ones," he said.
According to Dr Suluo, Latra has intensified inspections countrywide to ensure the availability of safe and reliable transport services amid heightened travel demand.
Inspection centres have been established nationwide to verify compliance with licence conditions and assess service quality standards.
"From these inspections, we identified 349 offences. The most common violations include failure to issue electronic tickets, non-compliance with licence conditions and some drivers operating without i-buttons," he reported.
Despite the violations, Dr Suluo said the overall road safety situation remains relatively stable, with no major incidents reported thus far.
He added that Latra continues to issue emergency permits where transport service shortages exist, noting that 252 temporary permits have been issued by Latra offices across the country.
Dr Suluo further revealed that from the beginning of December to date, 1,978,100 passengers have travelled using regulated bus services, equivalent to the number of tickets issued during the period.
