E-payment scheme to launch on Jakarta public transport

Date: 7/1/2013

Efforts to develop an integrated public transport system in Jakarta, Indonesia will allow passengers to pay for buses by swiping a card, it has been announced.

The plans have been set out by the city administration, which is launching a simplified form of electronic payment on its bus routes, reports FutureGov.asia.

Basuki T Purnama, Vice Governor of Jakarta, hopes that the system known as 'e-Money' will make commuting across the capital faster and more convenient.

He told the news provider: "Commuters will no longer have to queue at ticketing booths. They simply have to swipe the card on a sensor machine at busway stops to enter the buses."

Passengers will need to top up a money card in order to use the e-ticketing system, but this will be possible at a number of bus stops across Jakarta.

The government is hoping that once the system is in place it will be able to form partnerships with banks such as Bank Mandiri, Bank Rakyat Indonesia, Bank Central Asia and Bank Negara Indonesia, so that customers can top up their cards directly from their bank accounts.

Mr Purnama added: "The money card will also allow us to have an efficient financial management system in place as it can help us control certain financial aspects of revenue and costs thereby enabling us to identify certain irregularities or budget leaks as they occur."

Plans for infrastructure to be put in place to support the scheme are underway with all 216 bus shelters across the city expected to have the facilities by March this year.

Allowing passengers to pay for bus travel more simply is something that a number of authorities around the world are trying to implement, cutting out the need for change.

Transport for London has recently started to accept contactless card payments on its buses in a plan that is to be rolled out to other modes of transport later this year.

Posted by Nick Anderson

International Transport News and Sustainable Transport News