Tarun Karthick
Port Blair, 28 August 2023
Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament representing Andaman and Nicobar Islands, has urged the Chief Secretary of the Andaman and Nicobar Administration to introduce the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) payment system within the region’s ferry services.
In a formal letter addressed to the Chief Secretary, Sharma highlighted the significance of this proposed move, stating that thousands of commuters who rely on the ferry services connecting Chatham, Bambooflat, and other ports, as well as inter-island travellers, currently face challenges due to the conventional cash-based ticketing system in place.
The existing system requires passengers to purchase ferry tickets with cash, which is not only inconvenient but also results in the unnecessary generation of paper tickets, contributing to paper wastage and environmental concerns. He also informed that the passengers face problems in tendering exact change.
In his appeal, Sharma emphasised the need to modernise and simplify the public transportation system in the islands, making it more eco-friendly and user-friendly. He proposed that implementing the UPI payment system would significantly enhance the overall experience for passengers, offering them a hassle-free option to pay for their ferry tickets using mobile phones and other digital devices, thus eliminating the inconvenience of carrying cash or searching for exact change.
Moreover, Sharma stressed that this digital payment method would save time for both passengers and shipping staff during ticket issuance.
As part of the proposal, the Member of Parliament suggested that ferry tickets be generated and delivered electronically via email or messaging platforms whenever feasible. He argued that this approach would substantially reduce paper consumption, aligning with the region’s commitment to conservation and sustainable practices, all while simplifying the ticketing process for passengers.
Mr. Abhay Kumar, President, LOTE (Living on the Edge) had recently raised this issue on X (Formerly Twitter) demanding that digital mode of payments be introduced for purchasing ferry tickets.