AMN
Maharashtra’s Tourism Minister Aditya Thackeray today inaugurated India’s first bus service with ‘Tap In, Tap Out’ or the fully digital ticketing facility. The service was inaugurated on one of the BEST buses plying on the Gateway of India to Churchgate route, with plans afoot to expand the facility on all 438 routes in the near future.
Under the ‘Tap In, Tap Out’ service, a passenger will have to ‘Tap In’ his Chalo smartcard or the Chalo mobile app in front of the machine installed at the entrance. A green tick will allow the passenger to board the bus while the fare will be deducted when the passenger deboards the bus after ‘Tapping Out’ the smart card or mobile app. These buses will have ‘Digital Bus’ mentioned at the entrance. Only those passengers who are using the app or smartcard for cashless payment will be allowed to travel on the bus.
In a statement, Mr. Thackeray said the ‘Tap In, Tap Out’ facility will usher in a stress-free commute. Lauding the entire team of Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport or the BEST undertaking, that runs the BEST bus service in Mumbai, the Minister said the team, including the General Manager Lokesh Chandra keep on working tirelessly to provide best service to Mumbaikars.
Reiterating the Mantra of ‘Pudhe Chala’ or ‘Move Ahead’, Mr. Thackeray said, BEST not only provides the most affordable services, but also aims to go completely green by 2027. He further informed that BEST has also commenced refurbishing bus stops to make them more safe and comfortable for commuters.