KAKINADA : The APSRTC East Godavari Region has introduced 35 PoS machines in nine bus depots to overcome acute shortage of currency notes of smaller denominations and for the convenience of travelling public in times of cash crunch. With the introduction of swipe machines, the RTC earnings have recorded an upward trend of nearly 15 to 20 per cent in the region.
According to official information, the RTC Region runs nearly 780 bus services daily from nine depots to various places within the district and to distant places like Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Chennai, Kadapa, Vijayawada etc. About 65,000 to 70,000 commuters travel by the RTC buses daily, fetching an average income of `90 lakh to the Road Transport Corporation.
As per the directive of the State Government, the RTC Region made arrangements for cashless transactions at all the nine bus depots.
On November 30, the RTC authorities introduced seven PoS machines at Kakinada, five at Rajamahendravaram and three at Amalapuram in the first phase. After observing the good results of of swipe machines, the officials introduced another 20 machines in the remaining depots taking the total to 35. The machines are mainly used for ticket reservation, bus passes, non-stop bus tickets and parcel booking.
“After introduction of the swipe machines, debit/credit card users are increasing gradually. Out of our daily earnings of `90 lakh, nearly `10 lakh is coming through the cashless transactions. People are slowly accepting the e-payment mode and the results are very good,” said Challa Ravi Kumar, RTC Regional Manager, Rajamahendravaram.
“Urban people are welcoming the new system. However, due to cash shortage, people are slowly changing their mindset and coming forward to utilise the facility. Particularly long distance travellers are in favour of the new system,” an official of Kakinada bus depot said.
“As we don’t have liquid cash in pockets, obviously we are opting for debit/credit card swipe for payment of bus fares. It is easy, safe and comfortable mode of payment,” said L Satish, an MTech student of Atreyapuram.