Mumbai: The BEST Undertaking may soon allow commuters to buy bus tickets through UPI payments, with the transport body mooting a proposal at the committee meeting on Friday, aimed at promoting cashless travel and reducing disputes over change between passengers and conductors. The committee has now cleared the proposal and the administration will commence the process to implement it soon.The proposal was moved through a notice of motion by panel member Ajay Singh, who urged the undertaking to introduce QR code-based payment facilities across its bus network. If implemented, commuters would be able to pay fares digitally either before boarding or after entering a bus by scanning designated QR codes.Under the proposal, conductors would carry dedicated QR codes on lanyards, while interoperable QR codes would also be installed on buses and at depots to facilitate seamless digital payments. Passengers could use any UPI-enabled banking or payment application to buy tickets instantly without relying on cash transactions.Singh said several public transport systems across the country, including the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC), have already adopted UPI-based payment systems and witnessed positive results. He noted that the initiative would help reduce frequent disagreements between conductors and passengers over the availability of loose change while making ticket purchases quicker and more convenient.Transport experts believe the move could improve transparency in fare collection and reduce cash handling across the network. Digital payments would also help speed up ticket issuance during peak hours and minimise boarding delays caused by cash transactions. The proposal comes as BEST continues to explore technology-driven measures to improve commuter convenience and modernise operations.
