Electronic payment system for urban public transport is to be launched in the city of Penza, news agency TASS-Telecom reports citing the city mayor Roman Chernov.

Together with traditional payment method, starting October 1, 2011, the city residents will be able to pay for their transportation using contact-free microprocessor plastic cards.

According to the mayor, this will result in better control over overall transport situation in the city through analysis of full passenger flow, as well as to carry out accurate account of passengers.

Under plans, Penza is to have two kinds of such cards – for citizens eligible for financial aid, and other citizens.

“You should not be scared of the new payment system. We have developed a gradual, step-by-step transfer process that would not require additional expenses from the passengers,” Roman Chernov said. In order to pay for a bus a passenger will have to attach a card to a reading terminal that c conductor has.

The advantages of the preferential transport card for eligible citizens are undeniable. The card is given one time, the number of trips on each card is unlimited, the card can be received or prolonged in any Russian Post office. Monthly the card balance has to be refilled by $8.5 (260 Roubles). That is how much a traditional social card used to cost.

According to the news agency Penza-Press, the new system, based on analysis of full passenger-flow, is to enable control over transport situation in the city, as well as to define, which categories of citizens use urban transport more frequently.

With time, the electronic transport pass is to fully replace the single social pass ticket.