Mowasalat Transportation Co. has signed an agreement with Turkey-based information-technology services provider KentKart to introduce an automated fare-collection system on public buses in Qatar, a spokesperson for the government-owned transportation agency tells PaymentsSource.
The system, to be introduced by the end of this year, will enable bus passengers to pay their fares using contactless bankcards and prepaid smart cards, he says.
“We have been working with KentKart for the past 18 months experimenting on designs that can best serve Qatar’s public-transport systems,” he adds.
When launched, the smart cards will be available from Mowasalat kiosks and at select stores. Passengers will have to tap the card on readers on the bus and collect a receipt, the spokesperson says.
“These rechargeable cards will be available in a range of values,” he adds. “We are also planning to launch disposable cards for short-term use.”
KentKart previously installed contactless automated fare-collection systems in Jordan, Kosovo, Syria, Macedonia and Turkey.
