India is a country with a population of more than 1.3 billion people. Of this, a major chunk commute daily, either short or long distance, to earn their daily bread. When the Government of India announced the demonetization of 1000 and 500 Rupee notes, a lot of people found themselves strapped for cash. A common woe was people did not have enough cash to commute from one place to another.
In our country, most of the local modes of transport like autorickshaws, buses, trains conduct their 95% of business in cash. Before demonetization, neither the drivers nor the commuters bothered about going cashless for their commuting transactions. However, since demonetization, we are witnessing a change in this trend. If you are one of the wiser ones who wants to become part of this cashless revolution, then here are 7 cool ways following which you can convert your daily commute into a cashless one:
1. Call for App-based Taxi Services
A trend which is already popular in the metros since quite some time now, app-based taxi services are speedily foraying their reach to tier-2 cities also now. If you are a resident in one of the metro cities, you can choose from a number of app-based taxi services to commute locally. Taxi services like Uber, Ola, Meru Cabs readily accept payments through digital wallets, credit cards, and debit cards. What more? These taxis provide cab-sharing facilities which at times are even cheaper than a normal auto ride for the same distance. Now, these app-based taxi services have also ventured into the app-based auto rickshaw and two-wheeler services. Also, many of these taxi services provide you with special offers if you pay for the fare digitally. So next time when you call for an Uber or Ola, pay cashlessly and enjoy many more benefits.
2. Pay the auto wallah through USSD Banking, UPI apps or digital wallets
If you live in a city or a town where the app-based taxi services have not appeared yet, then your best option of commuting locally is an auto rickshaw. Although the majority of auto rickshaw drivers are still hesitating to move towards digital payments, still we see a climate of change in this section. Since before demonetization now one can find many mobile-based apps which allow commuters to pay auto wallahs cashlessly. Being a responsible member of the society, if you really want to contribute towards Digital India revolution, then educate and encourage the auto wallahs near you to adopt digital wallets, UPI apps, and USSD banking to accept and make payments. And an added benefit of paying the auto wallah cashlessly would be that you would be able to pay them exact change. No more haggling over that spare change.
3. Use digital wallets or prepaid cards to buy bus and train tickets
If you want to make your commute even cheaper, then you can opt for traveling in local buses or trains. These modes of transport are not only safe but also contribute towards reducing pollution. Post demonetization, almost every municipal transport facility has been instructed to accept digital payments. Now you can buy your bus or local train ticket easily through your digital wallets. Many have even come up with their special prepaid cards which can be exclusively used for buying tickets. Do give them a try. They are easy to use and you are saved from those long ticket window queues and rants of bus conductors for change.
4. Book your bus and train passes online
If you are a regular bus or local train commuter, then a wiser decision would be to opt for monthly or quarterly passes. When buying at the ticket window, you can pay for them through credit card or debit card or digital wallet. Otherwise, you can even procure them digitally through their respective apps. Using the apps, you can pay for the passes through debit cards, credit cards, net banking, USSD banking or any digital wallet. Not only once again you are being saved from the hassle of queuing up at the ticket window, but you are going paperless thus contributing your bit to saving trees. Who knew going cashless could be beneficial in so many ways at once!
5. Carpool and pay digitally
If you are one of those enlightened beings who is concerned about nature and yet wants to travel in style, then carpooling is the option for you. There are a number of apps available today which helps you to recognize common passengers in your daily commute route. Get together and form a carpool group. The car owner can fuel his or her vehicle at petrol pumps using credit cards, debit cards, digital wallets, UPI apps or USSD banking. The other members of the carpooling group can pay the vehicle owner through a wallet transfer or any other mode of digital payment suitable for them.
6. Book or refill your prepaid metro card online
Metro rails have made their appearance in many of the metro cities. These are one of the best, fastest and most comfortable modes of commuting within a city. These metro rails have since long provided commuters with the facility of going cashless. Regular commuters of metro rails can opt for monthly passes or prepaid cards and can refill them digitally through their website or app. But what if you are not a regular commuter? Dont worry! Most metro rail services now accept payment through digital wallets. Just scan the QR code and transfer the necessary amount. Your ticket to your destination will be on your hand the next moment.
7. Pay cashlessly for fuel
If you are using your own car, scooter or bike to commute locally then you can easily go cashless. All you need to do is whenever you pay for refueling your vehicle, pay digitally. All petrol pumps and fuel stations across India have been directed to accept digital payments by the Government. You can pay for the fuel through your debit card, credit card, digital wallet, UPI apps, or USSD banking and make your commute cashless.
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