No Money in India. Airports to Accept Digital Payments

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has issued directions to the respective car parking licensees across all AAI-controlled airports for evolving a mechanism of e-payment transactions in the form of debit / credit cards, digital wallets.

“They are also advised to keep sufficient change of currency in small denomination of Rs.10, 20, 50, and 100 to smoothen the process of parking at all airports,” said Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Civil Aviation in Lok Sabha today.

These digital steps are being taken because last month the Indian government had abruptly ordered to remove frequently used currency notes from the market.

The Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi had demonetized currency notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 on November 8, saying that the step has been taken to check corruption and stop the flow of black money.

[ Modi to Indians: Hey, Now Your Money Is My Money ]

Common people and opposition parties in India are up in arms against the government because the decision to stop the circulation of currency is causing severe hardships to commoners.

This war-like situation is causing deaths of innocent people who keep standing in queues even in harsh weather with the hope to get their old currency exchanged from banks.

Besides car parking licensees, AAI is evolving a mechanism so that digital payment alternatives through various modes are available at all centers providing passenger facilitation services at airports.

These may include food & beverage outlets, general retails, car rentals, pre-paid taxi services, and so on.