MSRTC introduces digital ticketing service in Maharashtra; BEST’s 100% digital buses cross 200-mark

MUMBAI: With the BEST promoting digital ticketing and also introducing 100% digital buses in Mumbai recently, the state bus corporation MSRTC does not want to be left behind.
On Wednesday evening, MSRTC managing director Shekhar Channe announced that the state buses will have digital ticketing service and launched 5,000 Android ticket machines for bus conductors.
"Now, you can just pay for the ticket using UPI, QR code or any wallet. This will also reduce cases of passengers not having loose change and arguing with conductors" Channe said, adding that more machines will be introduced in phases to cater to all buses run by the corporation.
The MSRTC has a fleet of around 16,000 buses for Maharashtra.
Channe further said that this was a "digital era" and many commuters preferred not giving cash but paying through the mobile phone apps/wallets. "We are encouraging more people to go digital and this will also be a faster system to purchase tickets than pay cash and wait for conductor to return loose change," he said.
On the other hand, BEST in Mumbai announced that it has crossed 200 buses which are 100% digital. These buses have the tap-in and tap-out facility which can be used by commuters through Chalo app or smartcard. The buses operate on 16 routes including A-77, A-102, A-105, A-112, A-115, A-116, A-118, A-123, A-162, A-167, A-369, A-378, A-401, A-402, A-Spl8 and A-Spl 9.