Petrol pumps get into digital overdrive, install infrastructure to accept e-wallets

New Delhi: In a major push towards making India a cashless economy, petrol pumps all across the country have installed infrastructure to even accept e-wallets and mobile wallets. Debit and credit cards were already being accepted there.

Rs 65 crore have been dispensed in the last two weeks through point of sales (POS) machine swipes installed at over 4,800 petrol pumps across the country. Petrol pumps have been dispensing Rs 2,000 per card per day through POS machines.

In the second phase, this will be extended to 18,000 LPG distributing gas agencies and also CNG pumps.

"Beginning today, we are launching a month-long awareness drive at 53,077 petrol pumps in the first phase to promote use of digital payment services," Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said while launching the drive. "We have covered two-thirds of the outlets in all capitals and major towns with digital payment solutions," he said. "Attempt is to reach as many points as possible quickly."

As many as 29,905 petrol pumps across the country have POS machines that allows card swipe to make payment of fuel as also dispenses cash.

With PTI Inputs