Passengers travelling Smart City Srinagar’s e-buses have expressed concerns with the conductors’ refusal to accept e-tickets generated via the Chalo App.
These buses, which are already referred to as smart buses, are not taking tickets purchased through the Chalo App, which poses difficulties in this cashless and digital era, they said. “I recently travelled in a Smart City bus and obtained a ticket through the Chalo App.
However, when I presented the e-ticket to the conductor, he flatly rejected it,” Mohammad Yousuf, a passenger, told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO). “To my dismay, I had no choice but to pay the fare again,” he lamented. The incident has raised concerns among passengers who have embraced the convenience of digital ticketing but now face hurdles in the form of conductors unwilling to acknowledge the Chalo App-generated e-tickets.
Another passenger told KNO that he recently travelled in one of these buses from Srinagar to Chadoora and realised he was low on cash. “I generated an e-ticket using the Chalo App and made the payment online. I feel ashamed because the conductor didn’t accept my ticket when I showed it to him,” he said.
In December 2023, Srinagar Smart City Ltd announced a partnership with the free Chalo App to help passengers access e-bus facilities, such as the ability to view bus schedules, track the real-time location of e-buses, or pay conductors directly through a smart wallet.
“However, to date, these e-buses do not accept tickets generated via the Chalo App,” said students who board these buses daily. Sahil Ahmad, a college student, said, “We are not earning yet; a mere 25 rupees means a lot to us.” People have urged the Smart City authorities to address the issue immediately to ensure passengers can fully benefit from the digital infrastructure in place. An official of the Srinagar Smart City said they will look into the matter. He assured that the issue will be resolved at the earliest—(KNO)
