By F. Zois
[email protected]
Long queues of people over the past few days were evident outside ticket stalls and counters at greater Athens area’s mass transit system – buses, metro, tram etc. – waiting to submit documents in order to acquire personalized electronic fare cards – a procedure sharply criticized as overly bureaucratic and without the use of electronic applications.
In some cases, people were seen bringing small stools to sit on while waiting in the queues.
The negative images caused the relevant transport minister, Christos Spirtzis, to apologize for the delays, which are unprecedented by west European mass transit standards. The minister blamed the significant delays in issuing the fare cards on criminal rings, as he charged, which trafficked fake paper tickets. He also cited an “institutional delay” by an independent watchdog authority tasked with safeguarding personal data.
Although the new electronic cards are “light years” more advanced from the current regime, commuters still cannot use smart phones to pay for mass transit fares and the Internet application for issuing cards or adding credit is reported as inoperable.
The current paper tickets will be valid until Nov. 15 for applicants that have still not received electronic cards.
Mass transit authorities in greater Athens require photo IDs and other documentation, contained in open envelopes, to be submitted to ticket counters.
