E-transactions at fuel outlets have doubled to Rs 480 crore daily from Rs 150 crore, after the announcement of demonetisation.
The sale of petrol,diesel and compressed natural gas,on daily basis have reached around Rs 1,800 core.On monthly basis,through digital transactions,the business of fuel outlets have reached around Rs 14,400 crore,reports the Business Standard.
Reportedly, prior to demonetisation, only a couple of thousand retail outlets in the country had digital payment options which has now increased to 37,828 fuel outlets.
After demonetisation on December 8, finance minister Arun Jaitley had announced a 0.75 per cent discount on cashless purchases of petrol and diesel.
From November 8 onwards, petroleum ministry has organised more than 33,000 customer awareness programmes, 40,000 standees have been placed to spread digital literacy and also launched promotion drives in all the languages.
However, the digitalisation drive later created confusion on who will bear the cost of the extra charge of 1 per cent on all credit card transactions, and between 0.25 per cent to 1 per cent on all debit card transactions.
As a result to this, All India Petroleum Dealers Association and Consortium of India Petroleum Dealers (CIPD) announced that from 9 January it would not accept cards.
Post Dharmendra Pradhan, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas of India’s intervention, the associations later went back on the decision.The consumers and the dealers were assured that they will not be bearing the cost for additional charges levied on card transactions at petrol pump outlets.
