Abu Dhabi: A new public bus payment system will be rolled out providing users per kilometre tariff calculations and smart cards for use across the UAE, the Department of Transport (DoT) announced on Tuesday.
The new Hafilat (meaning buses) cards will be divided into several types, including those that provide free transport within the emirate for senior and disabled passengers.
One-way trips inside the city run at a fixed Dh2 and travelling to the suburbs, such as Al Ain and the Western Region, will cost an additional Dh0.05 per kilometre travelled. Meanwhile, journeys made to other emirates will start at Dh10, with an additional Dh0.1 per kilometre.
On boarding the bus, individuals must tag their cards on machines placed inside the vehicles during which they will be informed whether their cards possess the sufficient amount for the trip. When disembarking, passengers must again place their cards on the device which will deduct the final amount from their balance.
“This method charges people per kilometre travelled. Trip amounts used to be rounded up to the nearest dirham and now people can save because they are paying for an almost exact distance,” said Mohammad Bin Malek, section head of ITS solutions at the DoT.
Ticket vending machines that can issue and renew cards will be placed at major shopping outlets, medical clinics, government buildings and bus stations. They accept cash and card as payment methods.
Meanwhile, 155 recharge devices to help people top up their cards will be placed at air-conditioned bus shelters, bus stations and other locations. These will only recharge cards with the cash amount inserted and are unable to give back change.
“When the service is activated on May 15, coins will not be accepted as a method of payment on board buses. Within the first six months of the Hafilat card launch, ‘old’ Ojra cards will still be usable to allow people to use up their existing credit and allow the public to become familiar with the new system,” Mohammad Nasser Al Otaiba, acting general manager of the DoT Bus Office, said at the announcement conference.
Other details:
Individuals have the option to opt for temporary and permanent cards. A 14-day paper card exists and can be filled with up to Dh150. Another type that can be used only within the city is valid for seven days and contains a fixed Dh30 to be used within that period. It can be renewed within its validity period, otherwise it is considered expired.
Permanent plastic cards can be recharged with up to Dh150 at a time. They can be used at a Dh30 per week rate or Dh80 per month. These tariffs are only valid for transportation within the city.
Personal cards can also be issued. These can be equipped with a personal photograph of the user and other information that makes it easy to issue a new card in case this one gets damaged or misplaced.
Students are eligible for a card at a Dh500 per year rate for transportation within the city and its suburbs. Trips across the emirate for students will cost Dh150 per year.
People can use their own cards to issue another for family and friends by deducting from their own credit and transferring that amount to the second card.
Authorities are planning to bring up the percentage of overall bus users from four per cent to 10 during their five-year plan.
The strategy also includes converting all bus shelters into air conditioned ones within the same period.
Senior residents and citizens, the disabled and students must provide the necessary documentation when applying for their cards. Only those who wish to issue a personal Hafilat card are required to present a valid ID.
