Hafilat has an integrated infrastructure of sale and balance reloading channels that have different features and facilities.
The Department of Transport (DoT) on Sunday announced a soon-to-be-launched automated fare collection called ‘Hafilat’, offering public transport users a more convenient travel experience.
The new project is being launched under the Surface Transport Master Plan (STMP) DoT to provide world-class and convenient solutions to public transport users.
“The department is gearing up to roll out one of the most advanced automated fare collection systems under the name of ‘Hafilat’, with an integrated infrastructure of sale and balance reloading channels that have different features and facilities,” said the department in a statement.
“The launch of ‘Hafilat’, the automated fare collection system, is in line with the DoT’s strategy to provide easy, convenient and flexible solutions for commuters to reload their cards and pay for their trips via various safe accessible channels, thereby avoiding long queues to enter and exit the bus,” said Khaled Mohammed Hashem, Executive Director of the Land Sector DoT.
The Automated Fare Collection system (AFC) includes three different components made to ease the process on commuters — the Ticket Vending Machine (TVM), which allows users to independently buy and top up their cards as well as pay fines for violating public transport rules and regulations. These machines, which are being installed in main bus stations in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain as well as in shopping malls, accept all kinds of payments including credit cards as well as cash (coins and bank notes) with the ability to return change if needed.
“Following the rollout of the service, the DoT will work to equip the cards with further features such as mobile or online payments as well as the potential to pay for other transport related services including taxis, ferries, Mawaqif or even possibly to pay for other non-transport related services such as cinemas and football matches,” said Hashem.
The second component is the Swift Reloader Machine — a much simpler machine that allows commuters to simply recharge their ‘Hafilat’ cards. This machine only handles bank notes and unlike the TVM, does not return change. About 300 Swift Reloader Machines are being installed in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain bus stations as well as in customer care centres, bus shelters, and many points of interest such as the Abu Dhabi International Airport, shopping malls and hospitals.
The third and final component, called the Card Validator is fixed at the entrances and exits of all operating buses in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. These machines automatically calculate and deduct the fare as the passenger enters and exits the bus. The passenger just needs to hold the card near the machine as he or she enters and exits. The Card Validator will then calculate, deduct the fare, and provide passengers with balance information and reject the card in case of insufficient balance.
In addition, an onboard service is also available for inter-city busses only, which enables passengers to purchase temporary ‘Hafilat cards’ from the driver and reload their existing permanent ‘Hafilat’ cards by paying the driver directly, the fare is then deducted automatically.
