Bus operator needs to do more to provide better service

AN EFFICIENT and well-linked public transportation system is one element that forms the backbone of a city, and serves to provide an affordable mode for citizens to get to their destinations.

The Nadi Putra bus service, which is operated by Syarikat Pengangkutan Awam Putrajaya Sdn Bhd, is the sole service provider for public transport within Putrajaya.

StarMetro decided to try out the service over a couple of days in a bid to experience the public transportation service in Putrajaya, and found that improvements are needed to make the service more conducive and convenient.

I took the bus from both Putrajaya Sentral, and the Park-and-Ride facility at Precinct 14, Putrajaya.

Improvements needed: Only selected bus stations are equipped with information and electronic boards displaying the bus routes, destinations and estimated arrival time.

The bus frequency at Putrajaya Sentral was regular, which meant that the waiting period for a bus did not take long.

While Putrajaya Sentral was a bustling place as it serves as the central station for bus and train services in Putrajaya, the Park-and-Ride facility at Precinct 14 was a complete contrast.

Looking for the facility was the first challenge. The existing signage and website information point to a Park and Ride facility at Precinct 1, but that site has ceased to exist.

It was only after I called a colleague and spent some time hunting that I found the correct Park-and- Ride facility, which is located near the Diplomatic Precinct.

There were barely any passengers there during the weekday off-peak hour, which led me to believe that it is mainly utilised by residents who want to head to their work places during peak hours.

New users and visitors to Putrajaya are likely to find the Nadi Putra bus schedule confusing, as there are more than one bus routes that cover the same destination.

Quiet contrast: The Park-and-Ride facility at Precinct 14 serves as an alternative for users to park their cars and hop on to a bus to their destination within Putrajaya. However, looking for this facility can be a challenge due to lack of clear signages and website information.

For example, there are four bus routes that travel from Putrajaya Sentral to Alamanda Putrajaya, with different stops in between.

For those heading to a specific ministry office or government building, they would also need to know which precinct or complex it is located at, as these are not mentioned in the bus routes.

While the 50 sen fare per trip was cheap, what I found inconvenient was that passengers had to provide the exact fare, as no change is provided by the bus drivers or at the information counter.

Using a cashless payment system like the Touch ‘n’ Go card would have made the bus trips more convenient.

Only those who regularly use the Nadi Putra service would get a Putra Card monthly bus pass.

The electronic boards that displayed the bus routes, destinations and estimated arrival time were useful, but this feature was only available at selected bus stops.

First-time user Mohd Haider Shamsuddin, 40, found his bus experience in Putrajaya quite pleasant.

“I took a night bus from Butterworth to Putrajaya Sentral, then one of the Nadi Putra buses to settle a transaction at the Home Affairs Ministry office in Complex D.

“The 50 sen fare was very affordable. I did not have difficulties finding my way around Putrajaya, though heading to my next destination will not be easy as there are no buses that go from Putrajaya to Shah Alam,” said the contractor.

Not all users agree with Haider, as several have taken to voicing their frustrations on Nadi Putra’s service via Putrajaya Corporation’s (PPj) Facebook page.

Common complaints include long waiting periods, inaccurate arrival time, insufficient buses at peak hours, lack of bus route information and dangerous driving by bus drivers.

Sole bus service provider in Putrajaya: Besides housing neighbourhoods, Nadi Putra bus routes also cover tourist spots such as Putra Mosque and Alamanda Shopping Mall. -filepic

Following a complaint about Nadi Putra’s inefficient service that was highlighted in a local Malay daily, PPj Corporate Communications senior deputy director Tengku Aina Tengku Ismail Shah replied that PPj was in the process of improving Nadi Putra’s service.

“These efforts include providing an arrival schedule at selected bus stops, and introducing two types of routes during morning and evening peak hours on weekdays — which are the normal and direct routes (indicated by the letters L and D respectively).

“The bus frequency rate for normal or L routes are every 30 minutes, while the rate for direct or D routes are every 15 to 30 minutes,” she said.

Tengku Aina further stated that detailed complaints and suggestions for improvements should be directed to Syarikat Pengangkutan Awam Putrajaya Sdn Bhd via 03-8887 7787 or [e-mail]

Although Putrajaya MP Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor had announced in June 2013 that a survey would be carried out to acquire feedback on improvements needed and a possible bus fare increase, the results of that survey have yet to be revealed.

It was reported that PPj currently subsidises up to RM3 per passenger, amounting to a total of RM17mil. Income stood at RM2.13mil last year.

Meanwhile, StarMetro’s requests for an interview with Syarikat Pengangkutan Awam Putrajaya Sdn Bhd prior to this story have also been turned down.