Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) launched the Chalo app a week ago in the hands of the state Minister of Tourism and Environment, Aaditya Thackeray. On December 28, when the total number of downloads of the Chalo app exceeded 1 lakh, the company started issuing physical tickets even to those who purchased tickets or season passes from the app.

An app introduced for the benefit of Mumbaikars is now being challenged by passengers due to this issue.

This app launched on December 21, but within a week, bus drivers complained that passengers were arguing over not issuing physical tickets despite booking using the Chalo app.

BEST drivers issuing tickets at bus stops claim that passengers require a physical ticket to be issued to them after showing the purchased bus ticket on the Chalo app.

“The passengers come and ask for a physical ticket to be provided to them and argue with us. We try to make them understand that an electronic ticket is enough to travel but they want a physical one. This poses a lot of problems on the ground. “said a conductor from BEST.

Sources said that as of Tuesday, the BEST informed the public on social media that bus tickets and passes are being issued on the Chalo App as a digital initiative to make it paperless. However, it was decided to issue a provisionally printed ticket from December 28.

The tickets will be printed with the travel information and the cost of the ticket in the case of the mobile ticket. In the case of bus passes, only travel information will be printed.

Confirming the same, BEST Undertaking General Manager Lokesh Chandra has stated that it is not mandatory (issuing physical tickets against bookings made on the Chalo app) and we don’t want this to be the case.

“Some passengers are asking and arguing with the bus drivers. So just for now, we are starting to issue tickets say for a month or so on a temporary basis. We are educating passengers not to insist on paper-format tickets. We have passed the lakh milestone for the Chalo app, ”he said.

The Chalo app was launched on December 21 with great fanfare. This not only helps the passengers to buy physical tickets, but also allows them to track the bus, know the estimated time of arrival, know if the bus is crowded or not and even allows payments to be made through multiple electronic wallet platforms.

It also tracks the location of the bus on the app based on the location of the cell phone. With the digital switch-over, bus cards can also be renewed online.

The Bus Pass includes 72 new packages as part of the Super Saver Plan scheme. Plans start from one-day plans, going up to 84 days, and from two trips up to 150 trips.

The Chalo app, working with city governments across the country, is operational in 31 cities across India and is tracking nearly 15,000 buses live.

Posted on: Tuesday December 28, 2021 19:44 IST