Best Launched Digital Bus Service from Gateway of India to Churchgate in Mumbai

India’s first fully automatic tap-in tap-out digital bus service was inaugurated in Mumbai by Mr.Aaditya Thackeray, Environment Minister of Maharashtra. The digital bus service was launched on the Gateway of India to Churchgate route. It was launched with an aim to increase the digitization of the bus ticketing system.

The completely digital bus was launched by the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) and it is India’s 1st bus service to go completely digital. Initially,  the digital bus services were launched on 10 routes and will be expanded to all 438 routes in the future.

The commuters can find the bus by the label 'Digital Bus' at the entrance of the bus. And these will benefit exclusively those traveling cashless. Commuters can use the ‘Chalo’ smart card or ‘Chalo’ app to pay for their travel - which is an easy and convenient journey for travelers. After completing the journey, the traveler gets a receipt on their mobile phone if they Tap-out using the app and can also collect their ticket if they used the smart card.

   Important points for the exam:

• The country’s first complete digital bus was inaugurated in Mumbai by the Environment Minister of Maharashtra - Mr.Aaditya Thackeray.
• The first fully automatic tap-in tap-out digital bus service was introduced on the Gateway of India to Churchgate route.
• It was launched by the Brihanmumbai Electricity Supply and Transport (BEST) with an objective to increase the digitization of the bus ticketing system.
• Cashless travelers can pay for the ticket by using the ‘Chalo’ smart card or the ‘Chalo’ app.

   Facts to know:

• Governor of Maharashtra: Mr.Bhagat Singh Koshyari.
• Chief Minister of Maharashtra: Mr.Uddhav Thackeray.
• Chalo app and Chalo smart cards were launched in December 2021 to facilitate digital and advance purchase of BEST’s bus tickets.