CHENNAI: The Central government’s objective to introduce digital transactions, instead of cash payment, seems to find no acceptance everywhere, going by the experience of a visitor to the international airport in Chennai on Saturday.
V T Raghavan (66) of West Mambalam went to the airport along with his relatives and friends on Saturday evening to see off his son who was flying to the US. When he produced his card for paying `700 for 10 visitors’ tickets, it was not accepted and worse still, there was no equipment for digital transaction.
“I was told I should pay only cash,” he told Express. He took up the matter with the supervisor, but even that did not help him.
Raghavan said demonetisation was welcome. “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been encouraging everyone to go in for digital transaction, but these people do not pay heed,” he said.
When contacted, senior airport officials said the ticket booth was being run by a contractor.
“We have already insisted on all our vendors within the airport to facilitate card payments. As far as the ticket booth is concerned, it seems more time is required as they are finding it difficult to procure the swipe machines due to high demand,” the official said.