BEST pass verification now easier with Universal Pass link

The move is a part of COVID protocols for public transports. File pic

As a part of COVID-19 protocols for public transport, the humble BEST bus ticket got linked to the Universal Pass this week. Officials said now it has become easier for the staff now to validate vaccinated commuters for seamless travel on buses.

"Considering the prevailing pandemic situation in the city and to ensure contactless transaction for ticketing in BEST buses plying in Mumbai, the BEST undertaking has now linked its Chalo mobile app for ticketing with the Universal Travel Pass of the Maharashtra government from January 20," a BEST spokesperson said.

He added, "When a passenger opts for ticketing through 'BEST Chalo App', it will be linked to his Universal Travel Pass and will be automatically verified through the ticketing machine. The passengers will not be required to carry a physical universal pass for a separate verification. However, the passenger who opts for cash transaction or transaction through smart card is required to physically show the universal pass to the bus conductor."

The Universal Pass database of Maharashtra government is linked to the CoWIN software for automatic digital verification of the holder's vaccination certificate. The railways have already linked their ticketing software Unreserved Ticketing System with the Universal Pass database, making it impossible to book an unreserved rail ticket online till the double vaccination certificate is verified in its app.

The BEST had no way to verify it till recently and depended on physical verifications. Now, with its new app in place and the database finally linked with the Universal Ticketing app, verification has become easy as well as keeping count of commuters and catching those travelling without vaccination as mandated by the government. As per BEST officials, more than three lakh people have already downloaded the Chalo App and thousands more do it every day.

3 lakh
No. of people who have downloaded the Chalo app so far