Hubballi: The Hubli Dharwad BRTS Company will soon issue smart cards to passengers who travel between the twin cities The plan is to run 130 BRTS buses between Hubballi and Dharwad, of which 45 are already running on a trial basis. To facilitate passengers to travel by BRTS, 32 bus corridors have been set up on the 18-km BRTS lane. Now, passengers buy tickets at the counters set up at corridors and travel. After its official launch in one or two weeks, HDBRTS is contemplating to issue smart cards to passengers.Ganesh Rathod, deputy general manager, operations, HDBRTS told TOI, “This smart card can be used to travel in both NWKRTC and BRTS buses. As NWKRTC will operate buses for sub-urban areas from CBT and also provide feeder service to BRTS corridors, people can make use of the smart card to travel in NWKRTC buses.”“We will install smart card recognition equipment at each BRTS corridor (stop) and passengers can just show their card to the equipment which will automatically deduct the amount for the trip. Then, passengers can enter the corridor. We are making arrangements to provide smart cards at the BRTS station. We will start issuing smart cards in the next 15 - 20 days. Using the card will be cheaper than buying tickets and passengers need not wait in long queues to buy tickets. The card is similar to a SIM card which needs to be recharged based on usage,” he said.We are also contacting some banks seeking their support to start recharge outlets in the BRTS corridor to help passengers. In NWKRTC buses, passengers will just have to tap the card on the electronic ticket vending machines handled by conductors. Initially, we will also announce some discount for passengers to avail the smart card,” added Rathod.“If a passenger forgets to swipe the smart card before getting off the bus at their destination, he or she will be charged the maximum bus fare. So, we are also working on prices to be fixed for the smart card based on distance of travel,” said Rathod.

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