Mumbai: PhonePe, India’s leading digital payments platform, on Monday said that it has partnered with Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST), Mumbai to provide frictionless, contactless, and safe payment options to commuters across Mumbai.
Commuters who use these services every day will now be able to pay the fare through UPI based interoperable QR code without worrying about carrying cash or exact change for their fare.
PhonePe aims to solve the pressing need for contactless payments for public transport users, especially as we begin to unlock the country. This will enable users to pay their commute fare in just a few taps on their smartphones. In addition, this will also make fare collections easier for conductors, especially during peak hours.
Over 10,000 conductors have been assigned a unique QR code lanyard as part of this initiative. All a commuter has to do is to ask for the fare amount to their destination from the conductors, scan the QR code using any UPI enabled payment app, enter the amount, and UPI PIN to make the payment directly from their bank accounts.
Speaking about the partnership, Vivek Lohcheb, Vice President – Offline Business Development, PhonePe, said, ”We are excited to have partnered with BEST to enable contactless fare payments for commuters using public transport across Mumbai. Interoperable QR codes have been deployed in over 3000 buses across 27 depots covering key routes in the city. This solution allows our esteemed partners to accept payments from PhonePe or any UPI app, ensuring both commuters and partners don’t have to go through the hassle of dealing with cash. This will prove particularly useful in these extraordinary times. We believe this use case will be a key driver of safety and convenience while acting as another step forward towards achieving the Prime Minister’s vision of a digital and cashless India.”
Manoj Varade, Dy P R O, BEST Undertaking added, ”We have introduced digital ticket purchases considering the safety of our passengers during this pandemic situation with a cashless mode of ticketing. It is a convenient way for both commuters and conductors. We strongly believe that it will encourage Mumbaikars to take public transport and help to decongest our city.”
