Approximately 3000 taxis will be equipped with state-of-the-art electronic fare collection in Kwazulu Natal. JSE-listed DigiCore Holdings, owner of Ctrack, today announced that it had concluded an agreement with Translog Management (Pty) Ltd, which will see the roll-out of its TAP-I-FARE™ electronic fare collection solution into approximately 3000 taxis over the next two years.
The project will initially target all taxis and commuters within the Grange & Westgate, Ridge Park, Buffer, KwaNyamazane, Alexandra Road Extension, Richmond Crest, Pelham, France and Napierville areas and commenced today 2 July 2012. Once the system has been refined, it will be rolled-out across the District of uMgungundlovu.
The uMgungundlovu Regional Taxi Council, with its 40 Taxi Associations, collectively owns 3 700 taxis and transports more than 500 000 people daily. Their system is currently cash based with the result that checks andbalances regarding vehicle condition, driver behaviour and passenger safetyhave been difficult to manage, monitor and enforce, say taxi owners.
Mr. Boy Zondi, regional chairperson of the Taxi Council says: “The time has come for our commuters and citizens to see our taxis as a safe, affordable, convenient and eco-friendly means of commuting. The taxi industry has grown over the years, and we as the District of uMgungundlovu are proud to be among the first in the country to embark on a project that will see the implementation of controls and rewards for good driving behaviour within the taxi industry”.
Pierre Bruwer, managing director of TAP-I-FARE (DigiCore’s associate company) states: “The DigiCore group is very pleased and proud to be part of this exciting initiative with Translog and commends the executive team at Translog and the regional taxi council for the bold initiative.”
“Our technology, TAP-I-FARE™ powered by Ctrack, enables and supports the convenience and safety factors around electronic fare collection for both the owner and commuter. We expect to make similar announcements in other provinces in thevery near future. Having partnered with Absa and MasterCard obviously makes things so much easier for us, in providing the transit industry with a solution that meets all government and legislative requirements,” concludes Bruwer.
Project fact box:
The project involves the fitting of:
1. A fleet management/tracking system (Ctrack) to every taxi, which will alert operators and the management centre regarding, speeding, route violations, accidents, theft and hijacking.
2. A smart card (EMV) system i.e. TAP-I-FARE™, the cheapest bank card in the country, administered as part of their social development mandate, by DigiCore, Absa and MasterCard, it requires no FICA (hence it is ideal for school kids, rural commuters and pensioners), and commuters can use it to purchase goods at retail outlets with a personalised pin. At the moment it is the only card with which they can access public transport in Pietermaritzburg.
3. On-board cameras to ensure the safety of passengers with real time viewing of drivers, routes and passengers. This is the critical safety tool monitoring the safety of all passengers
The fleet management system will mean that:
1. Driving behaviour will be monitored at a central control room and owners of vehicles will be notified by SMS of any violations by their drivers that the system picks up. Through this management system, driver profiles will be managed and good driving rewarded.
2. The provision of a 24-hour commuter call centre that allows commuters to register queries regarding the new system
The Kwazulu Natal project follows the successful pilot project for electronic fare collection in the public transport environment in Cape Town.
Also view:
Fleet Management, Logistics and Road Safety
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