Pune’s New Shivajinagar bus station is facing complaints from Diwali passengers who allege that State Transport reservation counters are accepting only cash, leaving commuters using cards or digital payments unable to complete their bookings. The reported restriction has created additional difficulty as festive travel demand brings longer queues and larger crowds to the station.
The complaints were reported by Pune Mirror, which said passengers arriving to reserve State Transport bus tickets were being asked to make payments in cash. Commuters who preferred digital transactions or card payments reportedly had to arrange physical currency before securing their seats.
The issue has drawn attention because the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation has been promoting cashless travel options, including National Common Mobility Card facilities and digital payment modes. Passengers said the reservation facility at New Shivajinagar was not providing the same payment convenience, creating a gap between the corporation’s wider cashless payment push and the services available at the counter.
The timing has intensified the inconvenience. With Diwali travel bookings increasing, passengers without enough cash are reportedly being forced to leave the queue or arrange money elsewhere before returning to complete their transactions. Those carrying cards or relying on online payments said they were unable to use their preferred methods for ticket reservations.
Passengers also raised concerns about a cash-related transaction in which they were allegedly asked to transfer ₹1,040 online to receive ₹1,000 in cash. If accurately described, that arrangement would require a passenger to pay an additional ₹40 to obtain the physical currency needed for the booking. The report does not provide an official explanation for the transaction or identify the individual or agency involved.
The complaints are not limited to festival reservations. Students and senior citizens seeking State Transport travel passes have also reportedly been asked to make payments in cash, according to the report. That could affect regular bus users who depend on passes and may not routinely carry sufficient physical currency.
The situation highlights a practical issue in public transport digitalisation: promoting cashless payment systems does not by itself ensure that every passenger-facing service can accept those modes. Reservation counters, pass offices and other access points must offer the payment facilities that passengers are told are available across the network.
Passengers are seeking digital payment options for ticket bookings and pass-related services at New Shivajinagar so that access to State Transport services does not depend entirely on cash. The report did not include a response from the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation on the complaints or indicate when digital payment facilities would be made available at the reservation counters.
