The government of Delhi has a new plan to make bus travel more convenient for everyone. Taking inspiration from the successful WhatsApp ticketing system of Delhi Metro, the Transport Department is now working on digitizing the ticketing process for both DTC and cluster buses. This means that commuters will be able to easily book their bus tickets online through WhatsApp, avoiding the hassle of waiting in long queues or searching for the right change.

As per India Today, the city government's Transport Department has recently declared its plans to implement a digital ticketing system for DTC and cluster buses on WhatsApp. Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot stated, "We have always been at the forefront of introducing technology in various transportation sectors. The introduction of a WhatsApp-based ticketing system will promote digital ticketing." He further emphasized that utilizing technology not only enhances convenience during journeys but also brings greater transparency to the system. "We have already initiated work in this direction, and soon the people of Delhi will be bestowed with this facility," he concluded.

Additionally, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) introduced a ticketing system on WhatsApp in May this year. This quite convenient service has now been extended to include all the routes of the Delhi Metro network, including the Gurugram Rapid Metro. If a similar system is implemented for the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) and cluster buses, it would enhance the efficiency of the ticketing process for all commuters using public transport in the city.

How to book a bus ticket using WhatsApp?

Passengers now have the convenience of purchasing tickets from multiple locations, including their homes, offices, malls, and more, thanks to the implementation of this advanced digital ticketing system.

To initiate the ticket booking process, the transport department will introduce a WhatsApp number where users can simply send a message with the word 'Hi'.
The chatbot will subsequently furnish information regarding bus routes, fares, and other pertinent details.
Subsequently, commuters can choose their preferred bus and continue with the payment procedure.
The ticket service facilitates payments via UPI, credit/debit cards, and various other methods.
As an alternative, passengers also have the choice to effortlessly purchase tickets by scanning the provided QR code using their smartphones throughout the entire network.

Few Restrictions

The WhatsApp ticketing system has a no-cancellation policy, as it is not supported. Moreover, if you choose to make transactions using a credit or debit card, there will be a small convenience fee involved. However, if you opt for UPI-based transactions, no convenience fee will be applied. Lastly, there will be a limit on the number of tickets that can be generated online per user.

_{(With Input from the agencies)}