Online mode of transaction on BMTC far from being accomplished

NT Correspondent

Bengaluru: Being able to buy Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) tickets by paying through a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is still a distant dream for city residents. A netizen, Suma, took to the social media site Twitter and brought to light a rare instance where she bought a ticket by paying through the UPI.

“This is a dream come true day! UPI payment was an option! I have waited a long time for this day. Thank you @ BMTC_BENGALURU,” she tweeted, along with a picture of her ticket and the QR code. Only a handful of buses have this facility, reducing the option to travel in BMTC to only those who possess cash.

Currently, Tummoc, a private startup, enables passengers to buy digital BMTC passes through their application. During April 2022, the BMTC launched the digital pass system allowing commuters to buy daily, weekly and monthly passes through the Tummoc application.

While passengers hoped that they could soon buy tickets under the same application, the project slowed down after the managing director V Anub Kumar was transferred. Commuters’ only hope now is the application Nimmbus, home grown by the corporation, which will allow the buying of tickets through online transactions.

However, the improved BMTC app has not seen the light of the day, missing several deadlines. It will have the option to track the live movement of buses along with an SOS button while also having a system through which fare payments can be made to buy tickets and passes for daily commute.

“The GPS devices have been installed in 3,500 buses so far. We have been doing it every day but the task lies in bringing it all together into the application and building accuracy. This will take some time to stabilise,” IT Director, Surya Sen had previously told News Trail. Till the application is inaugurated, commuters may have to make do with travelling by purchasing tickets through cash and hassling with conductors over loose change.