Nashik Municipal Corporation rolls out cashless ticketing on Citylink buses to boost digital commute

Nashik: The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) on Thursday introduced cashless ticketing across its Citylink bus service, allowing commuters to pay fares using UPI, credit and debit cards to promote digital public transport.Mayor Himgauri Aher launched the initiative by inaugurating the Electronic Ticket Issuing Machine (ETIM) during an event. The system is designed to make bus travel more convenient, efficient and transparent by encouraging digital payments.As part of the rollout, Aher, along with deputy mayor Vilas Shinde, travelled on a Citylink bus from Rajiv Gandhi Bhavan to Kulkarni Garden bus stop and bought tickets digitally to demonstrate the new facility.

Civic officials urged commuters to adopt cashless ticketing.The bus service is operated by Nashik Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (NMPML), which runs about 250 buses, including 200 CNG and 50 diesel, across 62 routes across the city. “The introduction of digital ticketing will enable faster and more secure ticket purchases, improve accuracy and reduce reliance on cash transactions. It is also expected to curb frequent disputes between passengers and conductors over the issue of change,” an official said.

NMPML CEO Vijaykumar Munde said, “The initiative marks a significant step towards modernising public transport and enhancing commuter experience through technology-driven solutions.”Over the years, NMPML has adopted several technologies like the Automatic Vehicle Location System, Automatic Fare Collection System, RFID-based ticketing and Service Level Agreement monitoring to streamline operations. With this move, Nashik joins cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Pune that have already implemented digital fare systems. “The initiative will support the development of an integrated digital ecosystem for the city’s public transport network,” another official said.