Minister of Transport, Highways and Mass Media Dr. Bandula Gunawardena said that the transport authorities have been ordered to fully digitise the bus, train tickets and seat reservation using the QR code system within three months to make the public transport sector more efficient and prevent frauds and malpractices. Dr. Gunawardena said local and foreign proposals had been sought for five to six years to update the system into digital, but was never fully implemented as corruption is rampant in the public transport sector. The Minister said that those who benefit from loopholes in the current system are using various ways and means to disrupt the digitalisation planned to be introduced in the public transport sector. The Minister has ordered officials to digitise the system and make a productive change within three months with no further delay.
The Minister said that the National Transport Commission (NTC) has been digitised and 1,500 buses can be fully monitored from one place. It will be possible to supervise the operation of all buses in the country from Colombo in the near future, he added.