In a bid to initiate cashless economy, Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has launched digital payment services in public transport.
The state government has collaborated with HDFC Bank Limited for introducing digital transaction in luxury buses and ration depots, reported the Hindustan Times.
Reportedly, the bank will charge 0.60 per cent service charge on every transaction.
“In the initial phase, the system will be implemented for luxury, super luxury, air conditioned (AC) and deluxe buses, and people will be motivated to pay the bus fare through the cashless system,” said Transport Minister of the state, Gurmukh Singh Bali.
The system will be expanded to all other buses gradually.
“The system is aimed at strengthening the cashless economy, as envisaged by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and to facilitate the public at large,” he said.
Furthermore, point-of-sale (PoS) machines will be provided to the HRTC staff by the HDFC Bank Limited. The bank will also provide training to HRTC staff to operate the machines.
HRTC has a fleet capacity of around 3,500 buses of which 200 are super luxury buses. In addition to this, the facility is also available at 58 ticket booking counters across the state.
“Since many people in rural areas don’t carry debit or credit cards, cash payments will also continue,” added Bali.
“We can’t force anyone to use the cashless system. Also, it is not possible achieve complete cashless system in a vast country such as India, hence the old system will continue,” he added.
“We have already started the process of digitalisation in food and civil supply department and point-of-sale (PoS) machines have been installed at 119 of the total 291 units of the department,” he said.
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