After 2 months, digital unready

LPG, Railways, RTC insist on cash

Nearly two months after demonetisation and the push towards digital economy and cashless payments, many government departments are still insisting that the people pay cash even as money is hard to find.

The government is offering 0.75 per cent subsidy on online payments for LPG cylinders, but the companies have not publicised their online payment system. Sources said less than one per cent of customers pay online.

Due to the errors in a pilot project, Centralised Dealers & Consumer Management System, those who pay online get the refill cylinder 10-15 days later. Those who pay cash on delivery get it in three days.

This has resulted in customers having to pay cash to take delivery of refill cylinders. But there is a hassle: LPG dealers and delivery personnel do not have point of sale swipe cards.

South Central Railway did a small upgrade for digital transactions. After demonetisation, the SCR provided PoS machines at all the MMTS stations and a few bigger railway stations. It is still insisting on cash payments at other places. Online booking is available for long-distance trains but not all counters are equipped to accept credit or debit cards.

The Road Transport Authority, accessed by 5,000 citizens across the state every day, has taken all services online except the payment of `10 service charge and `50 for reservation of vehicle number.

The GHMC and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board have adopted the cashless payment system but bill collectors and staff are accepting cash payments at the doorstep from residents.