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The Dhaka Mass Transit Company Limited, or DMTCL, has begun selling Rapid Pass cards as an alternative to the Mass Rapid Transit, or MRT, pass cards for metro rail travel, citing a supply shortage of the latter, reports bdnews24.com.
Previously, MRT pass cards were exclusively available at metro stations, while Rapid Pass cards were distributed through Dutch Bangla Bank. However, as of Thursday evening, passengers can purchase Rapid Pass cards directly at metro stations.
On Friday, the company's Managing Director Mohammad Abdur Rouf told bdnews24.com that the metro rail authorities currently do not have any MRT pass cards and they have no plans to buy new ones.
"Rapid passes are being sold as an alternative to MRT, and will continue to be sold. If anyone who has bought MRT passes earlier returns those for any reason, then it will be sold."
DMTCL has also made a “special announcement” in this regard on its verified Facebook page, urging passengers to opt for Rapid Pass cards, even though MRT passes will remain valid for travel. Both types of cards can be recharged at metro stations.
According to Rouf, the authorities have decided to bring 440,000 tickets by March 2025 as there is a shortage of single journey tickets.
“20,000 cards will arrive at the station by Monday. We will get another 36,000 by the end of the month. In this way, we will get the cards step by step by March.”
Earlier, due to the increasing pressure of passengers on the metro rail, the DMTCL introduced the QR code system as an alternative to tickets.
Currently, two types of tickets are given to metro rail passengers in Dhaka. One is the MRT pass card or rapid pass, and the other is a single journey ticket. After purchasing the MRT and rapid pass cards, they can be used until the money runs out.
Passengers making a single journey have to buy tickets immediately from the station. It is mandatory to return the ticket when leaving the station after reaching the destination.
When the metro rail was launched, as many as 248,000 single-trip tickets were issued.
At a press conference on Oct 14, Rouf said: “13,000 tickets have been destroyed. Passengers have taken about 200,000 tickets with them at various times.
“The metro rail authorities have issued a notice requesting passengers to return their cards. Some of the cards have been returned. In total, the metro authorities currently have around 40,000 single-trip tickets.”