If everything goes all right, passengers can use multipurpose e-cards to pay Sajha bus fare within September.

Sajha Cooperative is all set to introduce the system—to be used for the first time in Nepal’s transportation history—in its 16 buses in order to facilitate travellers and ensure transparency.

“We have already hired technical teams from Bangladesh and India for the implementation of e-card system,” said Mahendra Raj Pandeya, Sajha Yatayat manager. He said Nepal Bank Ltd will look after the management of the card, which costs Rs 150 for passengers.

Pandeya said the card can also be used in department stores, restaurants and movie halls.

In order to pay bus fare, passengers have to inset their card in machines installed at two doors of the bus while entering and exiting the bus and the card reader will automatically calculate the distance travelled and deduct the fare.

The e-card system is widely used in India as well as other developed countries around the world.

The cooperative has been receiving positive feedback for its smooth and timely bus service. Sajha has been running 10 buses in New Buspark-Chakrapat-Tripureshwor-Lagankhel route and 6 others in Sayambhu-Kalanki-Tripureshwor-Kamalpokhari-Gausala-Airport route.

The cooperative, which reached a deal with Kathmandu Metropolitan City to run additional buses in the Valley last week, has also announced to use e-cards in the new vehicles.

According to the agreement, the metropolis will spend Rs 100 million to buy new buses for Sajha and in return, it will have same amount of share in cooperative.

Sajha Yatayat is a cooperative public transport service provider established in 1961/62. After running buses in various parts of the country for nearly four decades, its service had come to a halt in 2001 owing to the lack of strict monitoring and financial regulation. Again, Sajha revived its services in the Valley in 2012.