As metro and local rail services are set to reopen in different phases across the country, contactless payments will be implemented with full force for commuters.
Top digital payment companies, gateways, and banks are eyeing partnership opportunities to test the new contactless technologies in the wake of coronavirus spread. Sources have revealed that leading Unified Payment Interface (UPI) applications including Paytm, Google Pay, and PhonePe are hoisting up for setting up QR Codes at the ticketing counters so that the commuters can implement contactless payments and save time.
“We see a great opportunity in enabling commuters to conveniently select source and destination while buying a QR ticket on their Paytm app that can also be scanned at the entry and exit points of the metro stations, We work with all major Metros – Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Jaipur,” said a Paytm spokesperson.
Apart from metro card recharges and QR ticketing Paytm is also offering commuters to view the schedule of trains on the Paytm all itself.
PhonePe which is another leading digital payments app in the country has introduced new flows on its ‘Switch’ platform for enhanced ticketing experience while offering contactless service.
Karthik Raghupathy the VP of PhonePe quoted,” With the opening of the Delhi Metro, we are expecting a significant uptick among consumers opting for digital payment modes and we expect smart card usage to increase.”
He further added, “We believe a massive opportunity exists here since the need of the hour is to enable a contactless journey for a commuter. Using cash as a payment mode always involves contact, and is inherently risky during these times.”
It is imperative that metro services are all set to resume in different phases in cities like Delhi, Noida, Kochi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai Line-q, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Maha Metro (Nagpur), Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat. The metro authorities in these cities have already taken all the necessary measures to restart services.
UPI companies have taken the right step in the right direction in ensuring contactless ticketing experience, it has been learned that two private banks along with a leading card scheme are also driving contactless acceptance solutions along with the metro authorities of Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, and Kochi.
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COVID-19 is turning out to be a blessing for UPI channels as they processed over 1.6 billion transactions worth INR 3 lakh crore in the last month, i.e. August. These numbers smashed all the previous records, and with the contactless payment modes to progress at an extensive rate, the numbers of August might not last long.
Conclusion:
This contactless payment scheme is going to be effective not only now but in the long run as well. The metro authorities have already taken all the necessary measures for a safe and smooth run and this ePay scheme for contactless deliveries is going to do wonders.
