What is happening in Andhra Pradesh? No digital payments at RTC counters, liquor stores

The whole world is embracing the digital payments due to ease of doing these transactions. But Andhra Pradesh, which was once known as the most forward looking state in terms of information technology advancements, appears to be going in a reverse direction now. Digital payments are not being accepted in liquor stores while 'cash only' boards at reservation counters stare in the face of RTC passengers.

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh): These days, starting from rural women selling vegetables from door to door, even the small shops at the end of the street, all are accepting digital payments. Everybody is using either Phone Pay or Google Pay or Paytm. The penetration of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) systems is so much so that you can transact with it even in the remotest villages across the country.

Over 2,550 crore digital transactions in 2020 put India at the global top position in terms of the number of transactions. And Andhra Pradesh, which introduced it almost a year ago, now says 'only cash'. A direct fall out of the decision is that the cash transactions have risen to a high of 90 per cent.

Convenience of digital payments- Digital payments come with convenience. Even if you forget your wallet, even if you forget to carry money in your wallet, you can carry out all transactions using digital payments, which are quite common in government services and websites. This is the situation everywhere except in Andhra. Digital payments are not being accepted in liquor stores and (Road Transport Corporation) RTC ticket counters in the state.

If you visit one, 'Cash Only' boards will greet you at these reservation centres.

While most of us have stopped carrying cash and relying on digital transactions. One will have to now go to the ATM and withdraw cash first, to board a bus operated by the Andhra Pradesh RTC.

When other inter-state buses offer UPI- Thousands of inter-state bus services operate and millions of passengers travel from and to Andhra Pradesh. Conductors of interstate buses belonging to neighboring states are issuing tickets to passengers through digital payments. The Telangana government has provided 'iTIMS' machines in almost all the buses and given special training to the staff. This eliminated the need for carrying cash and issuing tickets have become easier.

How AP fares? But, the situation in AP buses is different. The state bus reservation counters do not provide digital payment options by and large. Even in Asia's largest bus stand, Vijayawada, the RTC is not offering the option of online payment. It is learnt the management has stopped digital services for one and a half years. Only cash services are provided at the booking counters. Travellers not having information about this are made to run to the nearest ATM center and get cash to buy tickets. In most cases, the lack of digital payment service causes hardships to passengers, who are shocked to find out the lack of digital payment option. Such passengers are asked to try booking online using the website wherein digital payments often return a failed transaction.

RTC's lackadaisical attitude- RTC management has been accused of ignoring the concerns of staff and passengers. Although the passengers are demanding to increase the counters by providing digital payments facility, RTC officials are not paying attention. As digital payments do not work, many passengers prefer to travel in Telangana buses or opt for private travel. This led to a decrease in the number of passengers carried by the APSRTC and saw a proportional decrease in the revenue as well. The staff have reasoned this to be the reason behind the transport corporation's mounting losses.

Liquor shops high on cash- On the other hand, the transactions are limited to cash in most liquor shops across the state. BJP state president Purandeshwari went to a liquor shop in West Godavari district's Narasapuram a few days ago and inquired about the transactions. It was found that digital payments of only Rs 700 were made out of one lakh rupees worth transactions. It is clear that Rs. 99,300 (99.3%) worth cash transactions took place without any bills or evidence, he asserted. This situation is not limited to Narasapuram but almost everywhere else in the State. Purandeswari expressed her concern that similar exploitation is continuing in 3,708 liquor shops across the state.

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