The first city in India to get 100 percent digital buses has turned out to be Mumbai! Yes, Mumbai city will be the first in India that will be fully digital, right from boarding the bus to booking the ticket.
Read on to find out how these fully digital buses will work!
BEST To Run Fully Digital Buses In Mumbai
BEST (Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport) has announced this through a tweet. The transport service has also shared a video on social media, which showed the demo of a digital bus.
The tweet by BEST bus transport service said, “BEST to introduce Tap in Tap out facility for Mumbaikars first time in any bus transport in India very soon. Get ready for a 100 per cent digital experience using Chalo mobile app and Best chalo smart card.”
The digital buses will come with a “Tap in and Tap out’ facility.
As per reports, the very bus has also been tested, and it will be operated from CSMT to NCPA. The trials for this were completed on April 18 and operations will resume this week. There will be a facility for smart cards along with a mobile application named Chalo.
How Does Fully Digital Bus Operate?
Passengers will be able to board the bus and flash their mobile or smartcard in front of the digital machine affixed at the back entry. A green tick will appear, which will allow passengers to board the bus.
When the passenger wants to de-board, they will need to tap out and the bus fare will be automatically deducted from his app or smartcard.
These buses will also have “Digital Bus” mentioned at the entry, and it will exclusively be for the passengers that travel cashless.
As per BEST general manager, Lokesh Chandra, 20 such buses will be introduced on the office routes shortly. Additionally, more buses will be launched in the island city and suburbs.
Recently, we shared that the BEST has cleared the contract to acquire 900 AC electric double-decker buses. Rs. 992 crores have already been approved to the BEST under the Maharashtra Clean Air Project for procuring e-buses. Initially, this money will be used to procure the double-decker buses.