Cashless payment system installed at 15 checkposts in Andhra Pradesh to curb corruption

The State Transport Department, under the guidance of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has implemented a cashless payment system at its 15 checkpoints to combat corruption and guarantee the efficient flow of vehicles. Thirteen of them are located on inter-state borders with Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Telangana. Ichchapuram, Penukonda, Sunnipeta, Jeelugumilli, Thiruvuru, Garikapadu, Palamaneru, Tada, BV Palem, Naraharipeta, Renigunta, Dachepalli, Bendapudi, and Macharla are among them. Within the state, the remaining two checkpoints are located at Thetagunta and Renigunta.

At the approved checkpoints, cash transactions are not permitted. To transact for any service, such as a temporary permission or a voluntary tax, vehicle operators, including drivers, should go to https://aprtacitizen.epragathi.org or use the QR code. Before entering Andhra Pradesh, vehicle owners or operators from other states can apply online for Entry Permits using any computer system at their own location, at any online facility, or even on their smartphone. Payment can be paid online using netbanking, debit or credit cards, or by scanning the QR code at the checkpoints.

The new method entails collecting voluntary motor vehicle taxes and temporary permits from cars that enter the state for a limited time. Other State vehicles will be issued temporary and special permits to travel within Andhra Pradesh. According to transportation experts, due to numerous impediments such as transportation checkpoints, the average truck speed on highways is presently 30 to 35 kmph. A car in the country takes around a day to traverse 360 km on average, but in industrialised countries, the average distance a vehicle travels in a day ranges from 1,000 km to 1,200 km. Furthermore, the country's average transit cost is 30% greater than that of industrialised countries.

Manish Kumar Sinha, the State Transport Commissioner, stated that the new method will allow for more efficient vehicle mobility. Stopping at each transit checkpoint costs money and time, and it causes severe traffic congestion, which causes delays, sluggish passage of freight and passenger vehicles, and, as a result, high transportation costs and pollution. "The goal of introducing the cashless system is to achieve Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's goal of corruption-free administration." This would not only alleviate traffic congestion at checkpoints, but will also eliminate corruption with no income loss to the government," Mr. Sinha explained.