Hyderabad RTC Buses Go Digital: Pay with Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm

Are you struggling with not having enough change for bus tickets? Here’s some good news! If you have a smartphone with digital payment apps like Google Pay, PhonePe, or Paytm, you can now board RTC buses with ease. Online payments will soon be available in RTC buses.

The RTC management has completed all arrangements for online payments. Automatic Fare Collection System (AFCS) machines have already been procured to facilitate online transactions. The company had placed an order for these machines a few months ago, and they were recently delivered. Soon, passengers will be able to make online payments in all types of buses. This initiative aims to address the issue of small change for passengers.

Often, passengers hand large denomination notes to the conductor for tickets, and the remaining amount is written on the back of the ticket, only to be forgotten in the rush to alight from the bus. Now, with a mobile phone in hand, passengers can make exact payments for tickets through PhonePe, Google Pay, Paytm, and WhatsApp Payments. Additionally, payments will also be possible via debit and credit cards.

Currently, officials are testing the performance of these machines. With 6,000 machines available, RTC plans to deploy them in the Hyderabad Metro area during the first phase, followed by a statewide rollout. Drivers and conductors are being trained to use the new system, and experimental implementation is already underway in one or two depots in the city. Full-scale usage in the city is expected soon.

The remaining AFCS machines will also be added to the organization shortly. Once they arrive, passengers in rural areas, including those traveling on Palle Velugu buses, will also be able to make online payments.

Currently, an online payment system exists in AC buses running long-distance routes, but it operates on a temporary basis. The implementation of AFCS machines will make the process more seamless and convenient for both passengers and RTC.