KUALA LUMPUR: More buses, increased staff, security and paperless bus ticket systems have been deployed in preparation for the Hari Raya rush this coming weekend, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said 256 additional buses from various operators have been approved to meet the festive demand expected in the coming days before Raya this week.
"In 2022, 98 additional buses were approved by the Land Public Transport Agency (Apad) ahead of Raya.
"But this year, double the amount has been approved as we expect the number of passengers this year to be much higher as we are well within the endemic phase of the pandemic," he said in a press conference after a work visit to Terminal Bersepadu Selatan (TBS) here on Wednesday (March 19).
Loke assured that the approved buses had been fully inspected for safety by Puspakom and were equipped with GPS that would be monitored to ensure the bus follow its route as well as record the speed limit of the bus for passenger safety.
He added that TBS had deployed an increased amount of staff, ticket counters and staff at departure and arrival terminals to ensure a smooth travel experience for the people.
Loke also announced that TBS had implemented a new online paperless ticket system through integrating three online travel agents (OTA) into its systems to reduce congestion at ticket counters as part of the ministry's digitalisation push.
"GoHub's, BusOnlineTicket's and Redbus's online ticketing systems have been integrated into TBS's system making it no longer necessary to print their boarding passes at TBS's counters anymore.
"Instead ticket buyers from these OTAs will now receive both a QR code, for passing through the terminal's Auto Counter Gates (ACG), and their digital boarding pass through email.
"With this, it is now possible for passengers to directly head for their departure terminal to board their buses at TBS saving both passenger time while reducing congestion at TBS," he said.
Loke together with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's wife, Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail walked around the terminal handing over goodie bags to kampung travelers during his work visit.
