Pune: It took ten months after demonetisation for Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited (PMPML) to go digital after the first Point of Sales (POS) machine was set up in August at the bus pass centre at Swargate. Initially, the authority was accepting cash despite commuters having debit or credit cards.
According to the official, "The digital mode of payment was started in August. Earlier, POS machines were not available at the centres. Now, PMPML is going digital and all 14 centres have POS machines. We are also providing 'MI' card for monthly pass holders."
As per statistics provided by the PMPML authority, Rs 33,000 collection was made through POS machines. 'MI' cards were distributed to 105 commuters, including students (6), common passengers (64) and senior citizens (35) in September, and collection was Rs 12,390.
"During demonetisation, many passengers already had valid passes and, hence, they did not have to make payments. We are trying to make full digital access to payment mode in the near future. We are working on it," said the official.
During the demonetisation period, the Income-Tax (I-T) officials had searched the Pune PMPML account section. The officer seized some documents, which are under scrutiny. The official of I-T department claims that they found irregularities of Rs 2.5 crore during the survey, which was conducted last week. During the demonetisation period, November 8 to December 31, 2016, the government had given instructions to the public sector organisations to accept banned notes of Rs 500 and 1,000. The PMPML was one of organisations accepting the banned notes during this period.
The officials had examined documents of the accounts section to ascertain the purchasing of tickets and renewal or new passes to the deposits made during the month-long period when scrapped currencies were allowed.
