Kolkata is ready to witness a change in the payment method for the iconic yellow taxis as digital payments are soon to be implemented for the taxis for a hustle-free transaction.
According to the officials, Kolkata's yellow taxis are to go cashless with the digital payment options. The digital transactions are expected to be carried out through mobile apps and moreover, a new device is to be installed in the taxis to receive fare through the digital wallets, credit and debit cards.
There are around 27,000 yellow taxis in Kolkata currently running on the meter basis. Considering the rising popularity of cashless payments, this can certainly be termed as a welcome move. It will also help the taxi owners to get a detailed information about the trips taken during the day. On the other hand, it is also supposed to be convenient as you get to pay the exact fare amount.
The digital payment solution will certainly attract foreigners to ride taxis, who prefer cashless payments. With the upcoming Under-17 Football World Cup, more foreigners are expected to be around the city. The digital payment mode will be helpful for them as well as for the drivers and the owners of the taxis.
The Chief Executive and Managing Director of Astage India Marketing and Services, Mirza Jahangir Beg, who is also the developer of the payment solution, has disclosed that a few taxi drivers and owners are being provided with a Korean technology-based device on rent basis at a nominal rate of Rs. 10 per day. The device is enabled to receive all types of digital transactions and record all the previous transactions for future reference. The distribution of the devices are on the way and around 1,000 of it have already been dispatched to the taxi owners and 20,000 more are ready. The taxi drivers and owners are trained on the technical-front of the device to use it with greater impact.
This will be a step ahead towards a cashless society, where one need not worry about how much money his wallet carries. In the smart world, all you need to carry is a credit or a debit card, rather only your smartphone that will alone do the job of transactions through the digital wallets.