Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Jun 18: The UPI-based ticket payment system, introduced about a year ago to promote cashless travel in Mangaluru's city buses, has failed to take off as expected.

Initiated by the Dakshina Kannada District City Bus Owners' Association, the project was intended to modernize the daily commute. However, due to a lack of adaptation by both bus conductors and passengers, the initiative has not seen any expansion. Despite all Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) being equipped with scanning capabilities, they remain largely underutilized for digital payments.

Consequently, out of the more than 300 city buses operating in Mangaluru, the UPI payment facility is currently active in only five buses.

The pilot project and passenger response 

The initiative was the first of its kind in the state's private bus sector, primarily aimed at eliminating the daily hassle of tendering exact change. It was initially launched on a pilot basis in five buses operating on Route No. 27, which runs between State Bank and Attavar.

While the system continues to receive a positive response from the public on this specific route—where passengers seamlessly pay via UPI—it has disappointingly not been extended to other routes.

The 'change' dilemma 

Passengers strongly advocate for the expansion of this cashless system. With ticket fares often set at odd amounts like Rs 13, Rs 18, and Rs 24, both passengers and conductors frequently face a shortage of loose change. Commuters point out that widespread implementation of UPI payments would be the most effective solution to this persistent issue.

How the system works

The digital ticketing process is straightforward and integrated directly into the conductor's ETM:

• The passenger states their destination, and the conductor enters it into the ETM.

• The machine displays the fare and provides options for cash or UPI.

• If UPI is selected, a dynamic QR code is generated on the ETM screen.

• The passenger scans the code using apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, or other UPI scanners.

• Upon successful payment, the conductor receives a confirmation message, and the ETM instantly prints the ticket.

Challenges and the way forward 

While the UPI-based payment system is recognized as an excellent model for city transport, its success hinges on the willingness to implement it. Currently, many buses are not even issuing tickets through ETMs regularly, making the transition to UPI even more challenging.

Passengers urge the Bus Owners' Association to display stronger administrative will and issue strict directives to all conductors to mandate the use of ETMs and actively offer the UPI payment option.