Pune Shivajinagar ST Bus Stand Faces Cash-Only Payment Complaints; Passengers Allegedly Charged ₹40 Extra for Cash
Passengers at Pune's New Shivajinagar ST bus station have complained about alleged cash-only payments for ticket reservations and travel passes. Some commuters claim they are being asked to transfer ₹1,040 digitally to obtain ₹1,000 in cash, resulting in an additional ₹40 expense. The complaints have raised concerns about digital payment accessibility at MSRTC reservation counters.
Pune, November 4, 2026: Passengers booking Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) buses at Pune's New Shivajinagar bus station have raised complaints over alleged cash-only transactions at the reservation counter. The issue has reportedly caused inconvenience to commuters who rely on UPI, debit cards and other digital payment methods.
With festive travel demand increasing, passengers have reported long queues at the reservation facility. Several commuters claim that they are being asked to pay exclusively in cash, despite MSRTC's broader push towards cashless ticketing.
Passengers Complain About Cash-Only Ticket Reservations
According to passenger complaints, the reservation counter at New Shivajinagar bus station is reportedly refusing digital payments for advance ST bus bookings.
Travellers arriving without sufficient cash allegedly have to arrange physical currency before completing their reservations.
The situation has particularly affected passengers who depend on mobile payment applications and bank cards for everyday transactions.
The complaints have raised questions about the availability of digital payment infrastructure at one of Pune's important state transport facilities.
₹40 Extra Allegedly Charged for ₹1,000 Cash
A major concern raised by passengers involves an alleged arrangement in which commuters are asked to transfer ₹1,040 digitally to receive ₹1,000 in cash.
This effectively results in an additional charge of ₹40, or 4%, simply to obtain the cash required for ticket reservations.
However, the identity of those facilitating these transactions and whether the practice has any official connection with the reservation counter have not been established.
Passengers have questioned why they should incur additional expenses when digital payment systems are widely used across public transport and other services.
Students and Senior Citizens Also Report Difficulties
The complaints are not limited to advance bus ticket reservations.
Students and senior citizens applying for ST travel passes have also reportedly been asked to make payments in cash.
For regular commuters, the alleged lack of digital payment facilities creates additional inconvenience, particularly when they need to renew passes or complete transactions quickly.
The issue has drawn attention to the practical difficulties faced by passengers despite the growing adoption of cashless payments.
MSRTC's Cashless Payment Push Comes Under Scrutiny
MSRTC has been promoting digital payment facilities, including initiatives associated with the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC), to improve convenience for passengers.
However, the reported situation at New Shivajinagar highlights a possible gap between the corporation's digital payment initiatives and their availability at individual booking counters.
Passengers are seeking convenient options such as UPI, card payments and other authorised digital transactions for reservations and travel passes.
The allegations regarding cash-only payments and additional charges require clarification from the transport authorities. No official response from MSRTC was included in the information available for this report.