Wikipedia

Rapid Pass

The Rapid Pass is a smart card automated fare collection system based on near-field communication (NFC) technology used on participating public transit systems in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.[2] Rapid Pass card readers were implemented on a trial basis in 2017. Full implementation began in January 2018 and it was rolled out across rapid transit stations, railway stations, bus stops and terminals, and transit vehicles on many different transit systems.

Rapid Pass
Rapid Pass card
Native nameর‍্যাপিড পাস
LocationDhaka, Bangladesh
Launched4 January 2018 (2018-01-04)
Technology
OperatorDhaka Transport Coordination Authority
ManagerDhaka Transport Coordination Authority
CurrencyBDT (৳100 minimum load, ৳2000 maximum load)
Stored-valuee-purse
Credit expiryNone
Auto rechargeNo
Validity
Retailed
Websiterapidpass.com.bd

History

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In 2014,[3] Dhaka Transport Coordination Authority took up a project to develop an automated fare collection system for Dhaka city at a cost of ৳39.06 crore. Japan International Cooperation Agency provided technical assistance and 73% of the total budget for the project. The authority concerned decided to introduce Rapid Pass service on trial basis for buses operated by Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation plying on Abdullahpur–Motijheel route in the city in May 2017.[4] Sheikh Hasina, prime minister of the country, inaugurated the card service of the Rapid Pass on 4 January 2018. The project was said to be completed in 2019,[5] which was in the process of setting up a clearing house bank for multiple transport services which was implemented by Dutch-Bangla Bank.[6] In the meeting on bus route rationalization organized on 21 June 2022, it was decided to ensure the use of Rapid Pass in all modes of transport in Dhaka.[7] From September 2023, Bangladesh Road Transport Corporation decided to implement Rapid Pass for all bus transport services operated by them.[8] On 20 March 2024, the facility of collecting fares through Rapid Pass was introduced in BRTC buses operating on Dhaka–Narayanganj link road.[9] In May 2024, the Road Transport and Highways Division drafted the "Public Transport Integrated Ticketing System and Clearing House Management Act, 2024" to make Rapid Pass a payment card for all types of monetary activities.[10]

Card usage

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Along with MRT Pass, Rapid Pass can be used in Dhaka Metro stations for the same purpose

This card can be used to purchase tickets for BRTC bus services, BIWTA launches, Bangladesh Railway train services, MRT and BRT.[11] Passengers will get a 10% discount on the fare for using the Rapid Pass or MRT Pass in Dhaka Metro Rail.[12][13] As of July 2023, the number of Rapid Pass users was 66,180.[14]

Purchase and reload

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For the card, one has to register and purchase the card from any of thirty four branches and sub branches of Dutch-Bangla Bank. The branches are including Motijheel Local Office Branch, Motijheel Foreign Exchange Branch, Elephant Road Branch, Uttara Branch, Banani Branch, Gulshan Circle-1 Branch, Gulshan Branch and Sonargaon Janpath Branch. These branches also act as recharge point.[15] Besides, cards can be purchased and recharged at 10 bus counters located at House Building, Uttara, Banani, Shahbag, Motijheel, Rampura, Notun Bazaar, Gulshan-2, Shooting Club, Dhaka Chaka Banani Stopage and Police Plaza.[16] The price of Rapid Pass is 400 BDT (200 BDT pre-recharged on the card). The card can be also recharge from the Dhaka Metro Rail ticket machines.[1]

Criticisms and controversy

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Even after the launch of Rapid Pass, it was not made available for all bus services. On the other hand, bus operators are unwilling to use it to collect fares as they cannot collect more than the government fixed fare.[17] On 7 December 2023, the Rapid Pass authority directed D-Money, another smart card-based automatic fare collection system permitted by Bangladesh Bank, to stop operations on the ground that any card other than Rapid Pass is invalid in the country, even though there is no such law.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b "MRT pass নিবেন নাকি Rapid Pass" (in Bengali). Dhaka Metro Rail. Archived from the original on 28 January 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Rapid Pass Logo Description". Archived from the original on 30 January 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  3. ^ Mamun, Sohel (14 October 2017). "Do you have your Rapid Pass?". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  4. ^ Ahmed, Shamim (24 January 2017). "ঢাকার গণপরিবহনে আসছে 'র‍্যাপিড পাস'". Bdnews24.com (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 25 January 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  5. ^ Mamun, Sohel (13 May 2022). "Lack of coordination delays Rapid Pass project". Dhaka Tribune. Archived from the original on 5 July 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  6. ^ "PM launches Rapid Pass Card to ease bus fare payment". The Independent. 5 January 2018. Archived from the original on 21 January 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  7. ^ "গণপরিবহনের জন্য হচ্ছে র‍্যাপিড পাস : মেয়র আতিকুল". Dhaka Post (in Bengali). 21 June 2022. Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  8. ^ "বিআরটিসির বাসে আসছে র‌্যাপিড পাস". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 9 August 2023. Archived from the original on 18 January 2024. Retrieved 10 September 2023.
  9. ^ "বিআরটিসি বাসে র‍্যাপিড পাস চালু". Kaler Kantho (in Bengali). 20 March 2024. Archived from the original on 6 April 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  10. ^ "র‍‍্যাপিড পাসে পরিশোধ হবে সব গণপরিবহনের ভাড়া". Bonik Barta (in Bengali). 4 May 2024. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  11. ^ "Passengers can also pay metro rail fare with Rapid Pass". The Business Standard. 28 December 2022. Archived from the original on 28 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  12. ^ "Passengers who can travel Metro Rail without fare". Kalerkantho. 28 December 2023. Archived from the original on 14 May 2024. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  13. ^ "Metro rail commuters to get 10% discount by paying fares on smart cards". THE BUSINESS STANDARD. 8 September 2023. Archived from the original on 1 November 2023. Retrieved 28 January 2024.
  14. ^ Abdullah, Sheikh (7 September 2023). "র‍্যাপিড পাস – সব পরিবহনের জন্য একটি কার্ড – বাস্তবে রূপ নিতে যাচ্ছে". The Business Standard (in Bengali). Archived from the original on 6 December 2023. Retrieved 14 May 2024.
  15. ^ "'র‍্যাপিড পাস' পেতে যা করতে হবে". Jago News (in Bengali). 14 January 2018. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  16. ^ "উন্নয়ন মেলায় মিলছে র‌্যাপিড পাস কার্ড". Banglanews24.com (in Bengali). 6 October 2018. Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  17. ^ Shafiq, Shahed (25 February 2018). "র‍্যাপিড পাস কার্ডে আগ্রহ নেই পরিবহন মালিকদের". Bangla Tribune. Archived from the original on 30 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  18. ^ Solaiman, Shaon (24 January 2024). "আইন ছাড়াই বাধ্যতামূলক 'র‌্যাপিড পাস'". Daily Kalbela (in Bengali). Retrieved 14 May 2024.
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