17 January
Yangon Bus Service (YBS) is going to start its card payment system instead of cash, said Chief Minister of Yangon Region, U Phyo Min Thein, at the event of the 2nd anniversary of Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA) at Sky Star Hotel in Yangon yesterday.
The Chief Minister said, “We are preparing to install a payment system instead of cash boxes. There are questions regarding with the sector. OK Dollar and Anypay are part of the current payment systems. Now our changing payment system is not at that level. The card payment system will be available for every bus.”
Within the next 9 months, we are planning to change the card payment system step by step and Asia Starmar Transport Intelligent Company will take responsibility for the YPS (Yangon Payment Service).
“For the first 3 months, we will import the necessary equipment for installation of the payment system. We will need to take up to 3 to 5 months to install the equipment.
In the final 3 months, we will try to operate the card system from 1,000 to 2,000 buses. Within 9 months, we will make the card payment system available in 4,000 buses.” said Chief Marketing Officer Daw Yi Yi Khin.
During the project, bus fare is still fixed and after the pilot project time, the card payment system will detect depending on the distance. A total of 380 top up agencies will widely be opened in Yangon and also 5 card service centers will be opened for lost cards.
The ceremony was presented by Ministers of Yangon Region Government, Regional Hluttaw representatives, departmental officials, officials from YRTA, officials from 18 current operating bus companies and the Chief Minister awarded the best YBS awards for 2018. The ceremony was closed by taking documentary photos.
—Myint Soe
(Translated by Myat Thandar Aung)
