The Jamshedpur Mini Bus Association (JMBA) on Wednesday said that it would revive the long-lost ticketing system within a week on 13 routes across the city. The conductors on the minibuses currently do not issue paper tickets in return for the fare passengers pay.

The association, which introduced trial dummy tickets on all the routes on Wednesday, said the move would save passengers from being fleeced by whimsical staff.

All the tickets will have the registration numbers of buses, a detail of tariff as well as the logo of JMBA embossed on them.

The JMBA, which started bus services in the steel city in the 1970s, had withdrawn the ticket system around 12 years ago after one Jugsalai-based Lalchand Printers refused supply at the price quoted by the association.

The association, which plies close to 131 buses on 13 routes crisis-crossing all major localities of the city, later left the fare to the bus operators, who fixed an amount after consultation with their driver, conductor and cleaners.

“The conductors are required to pay a fixed amount to the bus owner irrespective of fare collected. This created differences between the operators and their staff and there was a lack of trust,” said secretary of JMBA Sheo Prasad.

The commuters too were left at the mercy of the conductors, who often ended up overcharging and pocketing the extra sum. Apart from this, the passengers often found it difficult to pinpoint blame in cases of theft or misbehaviour, as they did not have valid proofs of travel.

JMBA now has entered into an agreement with Calcutta-based Dipak Printers for supply at the rate of Rs 1,000 for one lakh tickets.

“The dummy tickets will be used for a week and would aim at spreading awareness. The passengers would be asked to collect and store their tickets during the course of their journey. The bus operators have also decided to conduct surprise checks on board their vehicles,” said JMBA president Chandra Mohan Prasad.

He added that the new system will not only help in increasing the profit margin but would also help in serving the passengers better.

“Anyone can now, with the help of their tickets, trace the buses on which they travel and register grievances,” Prasad said.

The minibuses ferry close to 1.5 lakh commuters daily in the city.