Joseph Isangura
These individuals are reportedly exploiting the system by purchasing tickets that indicate they will disembark at intermediate stations, but instead continue their journey to the final destination without paying the full fare.
According to Christopher Mwakajiinga, the Deputy Director of TAKUKURU in Morogoro, the investigation has revealed the existence of a small number of passengers who are engaging in this practice. “TAKUKURU has found that some passengers traveling on the High-Speed Train (SGR) are not paying the full fare, which could jeopardize the railway company’s ability to operate sustainably in the future,” Mwakajiinga stated.
The investigation has shown that some passengers traveling from Dar es Salaam are purchasing tickets to intermediate stations such as Pugu (1,000 Tanzanian shillings), Msoga (4,000 Tanzanian shillings), Ruvu (5,000 Tanzanian shillings), and Nangerengere (9,000 Tanzanian shillings), but instead of disembarking at these stations, they continue their journey to the final destination of Morogoro.
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In response to this discovery, TAKUKURU convened a meeting with the management of the Morogoro Railway Company, who have pledged to implement stricter ticket inspection procedures and take severe actions against any passengers found to be engaging in this fraudulent behavior. This includes imposing fines that are double the amount of the fare they should have paid.
The issue of fare evasion on the SGR service is a significant concern, as it directly impacts the railway company’s ability to maintain and improve its operations. The loss of revenue from these unauthorized journeys could hamper the company’s efforts to provide reliable and efficient transportation services to the public.
“The railway company’s ability to operate sustainably is being jeopardized by the actions of these passengers,” Mwakajiinga said. “We are working closely with the railway management to address this problem and ensure that all passengers pay the appropriate fares for their journeys.”
The crackdown on this fraudulent activity is part of a broader effort by the Tanzanian government to ensure the proper functioning and financial viability of the country’s public transportation infrastructure.
