Government’s initiative for smart passenger services is Rapid Pass. It is a smart card based automated fare collection system specially designed for use in the country’s public transport and even metrorails. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina inaugurated the Rapid Pass program on January 4, 2018.
It has been introduced to be used in metro stations, railway stations, bus stops and terminals and vehicles of various transport systems.
While inaugurating the Rapid Pass, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said that the world is moving forward using modern technology, we are not behind. We want to keep pace with the world. We are launching Rapid Pass to give digital opportunities to the people of the country in terms of communication.
Rapid Pass is a fare payment system through a smart card. Through this pass, the specified distance can be paid by recharging the smart card and paying the fare through it. As a result, the transport workers will not have the opportunity to collect additional fare.
What about the Rapid Pass card?
From road and bridge tolls, supermarket shopping to paying student salaries; All can be done with one card. It can also be used to pay bills for various government services. Customers can recharge the card from their debit and credit cards and Mobile Financial Services (MFS) accounts. No more hassle of carrying multiple cards in purse or wallet, then finding a special card to pay a specific bill. A 10 percent discount is available on Metrorail Rapid Pass.
Through this pass, passengers can seamlessly pay all fares across the country on all existing transport services including Mass Rapid Transit (MRT), Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), BRTC buses, all public and private buses, sea transport and trains.
Officials said that the main objective of launching Rapid Card is to save people’s time by creating cashless (cashless) transaction opportunities. Also ensuring hassle-free travel. Besides, its aim and objective is to increase government revenue collection by ensuring transparency and order in public transport.
What to do to get Rapid Pass Card
To get the Rapid Pass card first you have to fill the registration form. You can easily download the form online. Then you can collect the card by filling it and submitting it to certain bank branches. It will take two working days to complete the process. You can buy the Rapid Pass from the following branches or sub-branches of Dutch-Bangla Bank.
Uora Sonargaon Township Branch, Uora Branch, Rabindra Sarani Branch, Pallabi Branch, Mirpur, Mirpur Circle 10 Branch, Ibrahimpur Branch, Sheorapara Branch, Corporate Branch, Motijheel, Indira Road Branch, Khalpar Sub Branch, Uttara, Taltala Sub Branch, Kafrul, Secretariat Fast Track. Apart from this, rapid pass can also be purchased from the DBBL booth of the metro rail station. There is also an option to order the card online by contacting the Rapid Pass official Facebook page.
How to Recharge Rapid Pass Card
Rapid Pass cards can be recharged from Metrorail ticket vending machines. The initial price of the rapid pass is 400 rupees. Of this, 200 taka is the value of the card and 200 taka will be recharged initially. A card can be recharged up to a maximum of Rs 1,000 at a time. However, the balance of the card cannot exceed 10,000 rupees. Card user can use the card once per recharge even if there is insufficient balance on the card. However, that amount will be deducted automatically in the next recharge. Currently, you can easily check the balance of Rapid Pass online.
At selected branches and sub-branches of Dutch Bangla Bank, at Rapid Pass sales agent points (not recharged in mobile campaigns), from ticket vending machines at Metrorail stations. The card can be recharged from the ticket counter or access fare office of the metro rail station.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation (BRTC), a state-owned transport company, has launched a rapid pass service on BRTC buses operating on the Dhaka-Narayanganj route to make passenger services simple and modern. Secretary of Road Transport and Highways Department ABM Amin Ullah Noori inaugurated this program in Gulistan of the capital on Wednesday (March 20).
During the inauguration, ABM Amin Ullah Noori said that from now on BRTC bus passengers traveling on Dhaka-Narayanganj route will be able to travel by using Rapid Pass. As a result, it is expected that the dispute between passengers and transport workers over fares will be resolved