Is there an increasing acceptance of electronic payment and collection systems in the public sector and utilities?
An excellent example is the online booking of train tickets at www.irctc.co.in, which shows how the Railways solved the problem faced by consumers of waiting in long queues. This has also caused a spurt in rail travel which is cheaper and now made easier too. Payment of water, telephone and electricity bills is possible through bill junction in an online mode through your credit card. Property taxes can be paid online now. Soon we will see toll collection from motor vehicles on the National and inter-State highways taking place through contactless card payments. Fare collection on Metro Rail is already taking place in Delhi through a contactless Visa card. Oil companies are issuing prepaid cards called Petro cards for usage at petrol pumps. Airline tickets are purchased online. Smart cards are being issued by some states for driving licence. The Indian Government is taking a pioneering step in having a Unique ID for each Indian and issuing a smart card for the same. In services offered
