From our local stores and malls to vegetable vendors, everyone these days is accepting mobile payments. All thanks to UPI and the many online payment apps available online, we hardly ever carry cash these days. However, travelling on public transport in Chennai is a whole different story. The public transportation system in the state still relies heavily on cash transitions which is quite a hassle for daily commuters. Well, it’s all going to change soon! According to new reports, a QR-based ticketing system will soon be launched for buses and trains in Chennai. Read on to know more.
Digitalising Public Transportation Payments For The Ease Of Commuters
As per a statement released by Tamil Nadu Infrastructure Development Board (TNIDB), the state will soon see proper functioning QR codes for cashless travel. This new ticketing system will be applicable in the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses, metro trains, and even suburban trains.
Commuters will be able to recharge via mobile apps and QR scanners that will be introduced at the entry and exit points of all the buses and trains in Chennai. Besides UPI, they will also accept payments via apps like GPay, Paytm, and PhonePe, to name a few. This system, when implemented, is highly anticipated to make travel easier and more convenient for the passengers.
Challenges Ahead & What’s Delaying The Whole Process
While major metro cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru have already moved to online payment for public transportation, Chennai has been a late entry. A few challenges that have delayed the introduction of online payments in public transportation have been online payment fraud. Fake UPI payment receipts and online scams have been a few challenges that the authorities have faced and hindered the application of the system so far. TNIDB has been working with startups and other tech companies to make their system foolproof.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia & Canva
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First Published: January 05, 2024 11:29 AM