Mumbai BEST Bus Commuters May Soon Be Able To Pay Through UPI; Here’s What We Know

This is for all the commuters travelling on BEST buses in Mumbai. They may soon be able to pay for their tickets through UPI, which would eliminate the problem of keeping cash in their pockets. Here’s what we know about this initiative so far and how it could help commuters in the city.

Mumbai’s BEST Buses May Soon Introduce UPI Payments

Right after the famous local trains, BEST, which stands for Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport, is the second most popular way to get around in Mumbai. Run by the city’s government, BEST buses are not your regular buses. They have a 100-year-old history and are a symbol of Mumbai’s culture and everyday life. And now, officials are planning a major change for their commuters.

According to The Free Press Journal, BEST committee member Ajay Singh has proposed UPI-based ticket payments across the city’s bus fleet. Occasionally, commuters without a smart card, bus pass or the Chalo app often rely on cash. If UPI is introduced for payments, it is expected to ease problems for many. Moreover, the initiative will also help speed up ticketing and reduce cash collection work.

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How Will UPI Payments Help Commuters?

According to The Free Press Journal, UPI payments are now accepted by businesses ranging from roadside tea stalls to shopping malls. And it is high time that BEST buses adopt this digital payment system, too. This facility could also help reduce exact change problems. Regular commuters already have a BEST smart card, bus pass or the Chalo app, but passengers making an occasional journey on the bus often pay in cash.

Introducing UPI will eliminate that problem while also reducing the issue of passengers and conductors struggling to find exact change by looking for coins and notes in their pockets. This can also help avoid delays during peak hours. A QR code payment option would definitely make transactions easier.

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Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons/Pratheepps

Ashmeet Guliani | Content Writer

Ashmeet Guliani is a Content Writer at Curly Tales with over three years of experience writing about food, travel, fashion, and lifestyle. With a B.Sc in Home Economics from the University of Delhi, her interest in reading and writing led her to pursue a career in writing. In her free time, she explores cafes, browses bookstores, listens to Hindi retro songs, and watches K-dramas!