No Chillare, No Problem? Kudla Autos Go Cashless with Paytm

No Chillare, No Problem? Not To worry About “Chillare” anymore- Kudla Autos Go Cashless with Paytm

Mangaluru: No Chillare-No Problem? At least for now when you travel in a dozen of auto-rickshaws in Kudla, you may not have to hear this, “Daya Madi Chillare Kodi Saar/Madam” ( Please give proper change Sir/ Maam), because these few auto-rajas have decided to install mobile wallet Paytm for payment transactions in their respective auto-rickshaws. In order to beat the currency problem after demonetization by PM Modi on Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes, many citizens have faced inconveniences i cash transactions at shops, malls, travel etc- among them are the auto-rickshaw drivers. To avoid all these hassles, a few of these auto drivers have opted to embrace the change by installing mobile wallet Paytm in their vehicles.

According to M Prakash, the President of Kudla Souharda Sahakari (KSS), a cooperative of auto-rickshaw drivers, has pioneered this initiative with seven vehicles in the beginning. Speaking to Team Mangalorean he said, ” As of now only seven auto-rickshaws have been fitted with Paytm. In the nearest future, we will install these Paytm devices in another 200 autos. When a few citizens approached us as to why we have not yet decided on installing Paytm’s in autos, we quickly approached ‘I Search’ based at Kudroli which readily provided e-wallets to interested drivers. In this regard, if any auto drivers want to install Paytm, they can visit ‘I Search’ and get the wallet installed. I am very much confident that this cashless service will benefit the passenger and the driver”.

Speaking to Team Mangalorean, Ashok N Nayak, one among the first set of seven drivers who got Paytm installed said, “I love this initiative since it will be helpful in eliminating small change issues. One good thing about this service is that the earnings will be deposited directly into our bank account, and also that we don’t have to fear being robbed. But as of now, many of my friends (auto-drivers) are not aware of this technology, since they lack the basic knowledge of Paytm. Once they are motivated and trained, I am sure we will see hundreds of autos in Mangaluru installed with Paytm’s”.

Sources also reveal that, in the meantime, the Association is taking serious steps in introducing GPS trackers in auto rickshaws of members and connecting them through a call centre, for which permission is yet to be got from Transport Department. Although a few auto-rickshaws are earning extra money by having installed LED advertisement flexes in their autos, but there are some restrictions from RTO on this move. Once approved, the auto drivers can earn nearly Rs 1500 a month from these flex ads. It is also learnt that a few auto drivers have raised a voice against installing GPS in their vehicles. But critics say that only those who have fraudulent or criminal intentions would oppose it.

As per sources from KSS, the technology is provided by a local IT service company and drivers will be given orientation programme on how to use it, since many of the drivers are not tech-savvy, and they need to be educated on how to make/accept cashless payments. Although the Sahakari has decided to go cashless soon in hundreds of autos,but certain criteria have to be fulfilled and one of them is having the GPS enabled in vehicles. At present, there are 200 auto-rickshaws plying with GPS in Dakshina Kannada. There are also plans to adapt the ‘Navik’ indigenous technology designed by ISRO towards GPS. The association is also planning on setting up a call centre that provides upgraded services to customers such as a service on call.