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Empower PTC to play more influential role

Under the Public Transport Council (PTC) Act, the PTC is tasked, among other things, to ensure quality service and suitable fares for commuters.

Under the Public Transport Council (PTC) Act, the PTC is tasked, among other things, to ensure quality service and suitable fares for commuters.

From a price perspective, these two goals are at odds with each other.

From an outcome perspective, unrealistic low fares would lead to poorer service, if not an industry collapse.

To help achieve the two goals effectively, the PTC must have a larger role. Its functions and authority need to be reviewed.

Also, since the PTC Act was instituted in 1987, many developments have taken place.

For example, subsidies to the public transport operators (PTOs) have increased greatly in form and quantum.

Perhaps, the PTC should also monitor the effectiveness of these subsidies, which have a bearing on the two goals.

If we want the PTC to better ensure quality service in public transport, we have to empower it to take a more proactive approach, gain deeper insight into the PTOs’ operations and play a more influential role.

This would entail evaluating their business strategies, modus operandi, service and operation standards, contingency plans, quality assurance system, staffing, training and so on.

It requires periodic audits and random checks on the PTOs, to grasp the crux of the issues of service quality, productivity, cost management and other elements or dynamics of their operations.

The PTC’s enlarged role should remain advisory, though it may appear intrusive in the proposed actions. A better informed PTC could recommend specific actions for service-quality improvements and cost savings.

The public could get more details about fare and service quality matters, as well as the difficulties and constraints the PTOs face.

Ideally, the PTC should have a technical committee, capable of examining transport systems, equipment, maintenance and other technical issues.

The PTC could then participate, for example, in any investigation into whether a train service lapse was due to shortcomings in design or construction, or due to poor maintenance or operation faults.

Potential technical and operational hitches could be detected and averted early. This, more than punitive measures, would benefit commuters. Furthermore, a strengthened PTC could contribute more to the development of better transport systems in future.

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