The state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) has introduced e-PoS (Electronic point of Sales) machines as part of its efforts to move towards cashless transactions. These machines facilitate bus passengers to purchase tickets on their credit/debit cards.

Transport Minister Sidda Raghava Rao, who formally launched this move last evening at the ticket reservation counter in the departure block of the Pandit Nehru Bus Station, Vijayawada, expressed hope this will be a boon to passengers, who are facing cash scarcity. In a way, this also will solve the problems of RTC staff, who are facing difficulties to provide change to over 62 lakh passengers daily travelling from 13 districts in the state.

As of now, RTC has secured 30 e-PoS machines in Vijayawada and 20 machines in Guntur bus stations. They were kept at reservation counters and nonstop bus service counters. HDFC Bank provided these machines. RTC has incurred losses to the tune of Rs. 17 crore on account of the demonetisation of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes announced on November 8.

RTC Vice Chairman and Managing Director Dr M Malakondaiah said in phases SBI and Corporation Banks will be providing these machines for other districts. Slowly, he said they will provide these machines at all 423 bus stands in the state.

If the signal system cooperates, he said they are considering to extend same facility in busses also. First they are making efforts to introduce e-PoS machines in long distance busses.