Bus operators in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi have taken the initiative to help commuters save up to 75% of their monthly commuting costs. When a commuter avails the service of the technology provider Chalo by purchasing a Chalo card to be used for transactions related to everyday bus travels, not only will it reduce the commuting cost by 75%, transactions will now be digital and touchless – some of the most important innovations in the light of this “new normal” where everyone is trying to maintain as much distance as possible from other people. The card works on Near Field Communication (NFC) technology and is set to be completely effective from the 15th of November.
As people are starting to go back to their day-to-day life gradually, at least 90% of the buses have become operational in the Udupi and Dakshina Kannada regions and therefore, 405 city buses have been registered under the Chalo card initiative. This has undoubtedly resulted in the city getting one step closer to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for a Digital India. While the idea of commuting cost coming down by 75% is enough incentive for commuters to choose this mode, it is not the only good feature of the card.
The use of Chalo cards while commuting will ensure hygienic transactions as mentioned before it will be hands-free, which will also consequently make buses safer. While explaining the price reduction in detail, Santhosh Deshpande, the Senior Manager of Chalo said how a commuter who used to pay an average of Rs 399 for 28 days will now be able to make a maximum of four trips a day. The same 28-day plan will now come with a savings of 61%.
In the light of people returning to their pre-pandemic life even though the pandemic is still rampant, both the bus operators of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi along with the Chalo card providers came together to begin a new era in bus travel transactions keeping in mind the safety and hygiene of both the commuters and the bus operators.
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