Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is set to introduce an Automated Passenger Counting (APC) system in its new fleet of buses to reduce fare evasion. The innovative system will record the actual number of passengers and match this data against the automated fare collection system, ensuring accurate fare payments.
Currently, Dubai’s bus system operates on the trust that passengers will tap their Nol cards when entering and exiting the bus. However, there have been instances where passengers have skipped this process. To combat this, the APC system will be installed in 636 new buses, including 40 electric buses, 146 articulated and double-decker buses for high-density areas, and 450 city service buses. Commuters caught dodging bus fares will be fined Dh200.
In addition to the APC system, most of the new buses will be equipped with Raqeeb, a driver behavior monitoring system designed to improve driver conduct and enhance passenger safety. There will also be a driver identity authentication system linked to the operating system.
How APC Works
The APC system will monitor and count passengers as they board and alight from the bus. Sensors installed in the bus doorways will instantly and accurately detect passengers, providing real-time data to compare the number of people on the bus with the number of commuters who tapped their Nol cards and paid the fare. Beyond fare collection, the counting solution can also be used to assess passenger demand and optimize bus deployment on various routes and times.
Crackdown on Fare Dodgers
In April last year, 1,193 commuters were caught dodging bus fares during a six-day inspection conducted by the RTA. Saeed Al Balushi, Director of Passenger Transport Activities Monitoring at RTA’s Public Transport Agency, stated that the RTA has launched year-round inspection campaigns across Dubai to detect violations. He urged commuters to pay the relevant fare using Nol cards to ensure the optimal use of RTA’s transportation services and support the authority’s efforts to cater to the needs of UAE residents and visitors.
RTA operates a fleet of 1,518 buses across 119 internal lines, including 35 lines linking to metro stations, 12 intercity lines to other emirates, 62 internal lines, and 8 fast lines. The bus network covers 82 percent of urban areas in Dubai and transports approximately 369,248 passengers daily.
