As part of efforts to eliminate bottlenecks in the ticketing system currently faced by passengers when travelling between Parika, Supenaam and Bartica, the Transport and Harbours Department (T&HD) is working ‘hard’ to implement an online ticketing system.
Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill made the announcement recently in the National Assembly when he was questioned regarding the additional $4.4 billion given to his ministry in supplementary funds to support its work programme.
Edghill, while responding to questions from member Dharamkumar Seeraj on what measures his ministry has taken to bring comfort to passengers, told the House they are working to implement the online system by October.
“We are working very hard for an October 1 deadline for online booking for the ferries, so no one has to go there at 8 o’clock [pm] to line up to get a number to board at 5 o’clock in the morning. You’ll be able to book, you pay and you show up…We are working,” the minister said before assuring the National Assembly that the Advisory Board and the Transport and Harbours Department are working very hard on the implementation of an online booking service.”
Back in May, when Edghill commissioned the $82 million stelling at Fort Island, he made the disclosure that they were working on an online system.
The system he stated, will give them the opportunity to be able to judge on a daily basis how many trips a vessel can make and determine in advance if they need to put additional trips in place.
“Modernisation is something that is important, so online booking is the next major thing that needs to happen,” the subject minister had said.
Recently, with just one vessel in operation between Parika and Supenaam, commuters have complained of a lengthy delay whenever they set out to travel.
