Hyderabad: Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) has witnessed a sharp rise in digital ticket payments, with UPI collections increasing from just around ₹2,000 a day when the facility was introduced to nearly ₹2.5 crore in daily transactions now. The corporation has collected ₹505.95 crore through UPI by issuing 42.75 crore digital tickets in the last 11 months, reflecting a rapid shift towards cashless travel.The digital payment system, introduced through QR codes with conductors and mobile-based payment options, has significantly reduced passengers’ dependence on cash and eliminated the long-standing issue of finding exact change while travelling. Officials said the growing acceptance of UPI has made ticketing quicker and more convenient for both passengers and conductors.According to TGSRTC data, the number of digital tickets issued every month increased from 5.25 lakh in March 2025, when the service was launched, to 64.17 lakh in June 2026, registering a growth of 1,122%.The corporation’s UPI revenue also recorded substantial growth. Monthly collections increased from ₹5.4 crore in March 2025 to ₹74 crore by January 2026, marking a 1,266% increase. Officials said both ticket volumes and revenue have grown consistently over the past 11 months as more passengers opted for digital payments.Apart from improving passenger convenience, the digital payment system has strengthened financial transparency. Since payments are credited directly to the corporation’s bank account, officials said the system minimises cash handling and reduces the possibility of revenue leakages. It has also eased the burden on conductors, who no longer have to deal with change-related issues during ticket issuance.Rajasekhar, executive director of TGSRTC, said the transition to digital payments was a gradual process aimed at addressing passengers’ needs. “Faster UPI transactions, the end of change-related problems and greater transparency have made RTC a successful digital model. Our goal is to move towards a smarter and 100% cashless travel system, and we encourage passengers to make greater use of this facility,” he said.
