QR codes in BMTC buses ready for scanning, but payments on hold
Bengaluru: The Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) has rolled out QR-code based UPI payments in most of its buses, but the new system is facing underutilisation. This is reportedly due to conductors discouraging passengers from using the digital payment option.
QR code posters are now displayed on the side panels of many BMTC buses, allowing passengers to make digital payments. Once a payment is confirmed, conductors issue tickets as usual. However, the UPI payment system is yet to be fully implemented.
“In a city like Bengaluru, where UPI is the norm everywhere, from tea stalls to high-end stores, it’s honestly disappointing that the lifeline of Bengaluru, the BMTC buses hasn’t embraced it yet fully,” Aditi Reddy, a daily commuter, told the New Indian Express. She added that living in a tech-driven city, it’s frustrating to see public transport stuck in the past, noting that digital payments would save time and make travel more convenient, especially during peak hours when buses are crowded.
BMTC conductors, on the other hand, highlighted several challenges with adopting QR code-based UPI payments. They cited issues with poor internet connectivity in certain areas, leading to payment verification failures. This makes it difficult to confirm if payments have been successfully processed.
Additionally, conductors pointed out the increased workload due to the Shakti scheme, which provides free bus travel for women. A BMTC bus conductor explained to the publication that they are required to verify the Aadhaar card of every woman passenger and issue zero tickets. On top of this, they must also check daily and monthly passes, student passes, and other documents. Conductors mentioned that juggling these tasks while trying to verify UPI payments, particularly during busy hours, makes the process challenging.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
South African police arrest suspect in mass shooting that killed 12, including 3 children
Johannesburg (AP): A 32-year-old suspect has been arrested in connection with a mass shooting which claimed the lives of 12 people including three children at an unlicensed pub earlier this month, South African police said on Monday.
The man is suspected of being one of the three people who opened fire on patrons in a pub at Saulsville township, west of South Africa's capital Pretoria, killing 12 people including three children aged 3, 12 and 16.
At least 13 people were also injured during the attack, whose motive remains unknown.
According to the police, the suspect was arrested on Sunday while traveling to Botlokwa in Limpopo province, more than 340 km from where the mass shooting took place on Dec 6.
An unlicensed firearm believed to have been used during the attack was recovered from the suspect's vehicle.
“The 32-year-old suspect was intercepted by Limpopo Tracking Team on the R101 Road in Westenburg precinct. During the arrest, the team recovered an unlicensed firearm, a hand gun, believed to have been used in the commission of the multiple murders. The firearm will be taken to the Forensic Science Laboratory for ballistic analysis,” police said in statement.
The suspect was arrested on the same day that another mass shooting at a pub took place in the Bekkersdal township, west of Johannesburg, in which nine people were killed and 10 wounded when unknown gunmen opened fire on patrons.
Police have since launched a search for the suspects.
South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world and recorded more than 26,000 homicides in 2024 — an average of more than 70 a day. Firearms are by far the leading cause of death in homicides.
The country of 62 million people has relatively strict gun ownership laws, but many killings are committed with illegal guns, according to authorities.
According to police, mass shootings at unlicensed bars are becoming a serious problem. Police shut down more than 11,000 illegal taverns between April and September this year and arrested more than 18,000 people for involvement in illegal liquor sales.
