RTA Launches Payment Of Public Transport Fare By Mobile Phone Service

The new service is part of an array of RTA e-services to be showcased in Gitex 2012

H.E. Matar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) announced that through Gitex 2012 platform the RTA will launch a galaxy of innovative e-services highlighted by payment of fare of public transport means (Dubai Metro, public buses and the Water Bus) through smart mobile phones using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. This contactless technology, where the mobile phone is passed over sensors mounted on the access gates of mass transit means, is the first of its kind in the Middle East.

“The new service enables public transport users to pay their fares through the e-payment portal, top-up their Nol accounts electronically, and query about their balances through the phone. The RTA has coordinated with the telecommunication providers (Etisalat and Du) the activation of the trial run of the service in order to assess the performance of the service before its official launch in mid of 2013.

“In its Gitex Stand, the RTA will exhibit the Automatic Vehicle Monitoring (AVM) system; which enables bus supervisors at the Control Center to keep real-time track of buses 24 hours a day, monitor the operational efficiency and performance of public buses, and control bus movement charts by way of sophisticated satellite-linked navigation systems. The system plays a crucial role in transforming the scheduled bus trips into realistic timetables that meet the needs of bus commuters; which is achieved through the integrated operational roles of all departments affiliated to Public Transport Agency in delivering safe and smooth services to bus users,” explained Al Tayer.

“Locations of buses are pinpointed on the map as the system will directly monitor bus movement and match it to the published routes timetable. Bus compliance with timetables will thus be verified and in case a bus is running ahead of schedule by a minute, the driver will be texted to alert him accordingly. The system offers three communication channels with the driver: voice communication, text messages and emergency communication. The system makes things easier for bus drivers as it provides a chart of the scheduled trips and displays them on the driver’s monitor such that he can easily figure out the route of the trip.

“Through its participation in Gitex, the RTA will unveil the new shape of its services application (RTA Dubai), which is compatible with smart phones such as iPad, Google Android and Google Tablet. RTA customers using Madinati system will be able to transmit their reports on the system and attach photographic images or video clip, and the geographic coordinates of the site without having to contact the Call Center (8009090), along with the site of the fault to be reported. This new service will save much of the time and effort involved.

“Among the new services to be launched in Gitex, is the online link between RTA Customers Relation Management (CRM) system and the social networking site (facebook) in order to establish a new and direct communication channel between customers and the RTA. Through this media, the customer can access his or her own facebook page, submit suggestions, complaints, reports or applications, track them down, and communicate with the RTA through facebook posts, after adding RTA CRM system App to their facebook accounts,” elaborated RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director.

Al Tayer reiterated RTA’s unremitting commitment to upgrade its e-services offering, and provide creative e-services that meet the needs & expectations of clients such that they would be able to process their transactions online without having to visit customer service centers. The initiatives rolled out by the RTA in offering e-services contributed to facilitating the customer service experience, he noted.

Al Tayer called upon individual and corporate customers to benefit from the e-services offered by the RTA, as they will save much of their time & effort.

164 e-Services

Al Tayer also revealed that the total number of online services rocketed from 24 (procedural & informational) services in 2005 to 164 services in 2011 spanning all online services on offer. "The number of e-payment transactions equally jumped from 281 thousand transactions in 2008 to about 475 thousand transactions in 2011. The proceeds collected online hit 231 million dirham in 2011 compared to about 65.6 million dirham in 2008. Thus the rate of using e-services was pushed up from only 5 per cent in 2005 to as much as 745 in 2011," he added.

"The number of hits received by the RTA website (www.rta.ae) has jumped from 926 thousand hits in 2009 to 5.336 million hits in 2012. The number of text messages leapfrogged from 25.089 million in 2009 to 34.164 messages in 2012. The number of RTA online service users soared from 12,677 users in 2006 to more than 170,000 users in 2012, and the number of companies registered in RTA website grew to about 14,000 companies in 2012 compared to about 3,000 companies in 2006," said Al Tayer in a closing remark.

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Oct 14, 2012

Back