Validators outsmart new BEST scheme

MUMBAI, October 16: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport BEST undertaking's Smartcard underwent its first efficacy test on th...

MUMBAI, October 16: The Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport BEST undertaking8217;s Smartcard underwent its first efficacy test on the very day of its introduction today in all of BEST8217;s air-conditioned buses. Result: its smartness is already under a cloud, thanks to moody validators.

The first thing that struck commuters seated in an air-conditioned BEST bus on its way to Oshiwara from World Trade Centre, was a sleek little black machine beside the entry door. Even as commuters wondered what it was, a young man swaggered in and flashed a card at the machine, which replied with a beep. 8220;It8217;s a Smartcard, and that machine is a validator,8221; the youth told his neighbour. Small whispers began emanating from corners of the bus.

The conductor Atmaram Shirke, in true BEST style, came in and started issuing tickets, demanding small change. When he approached the man, he held out the card. 8220;I8217;ve punched in while embarking,8221; he said. The smirk on Shirke8217;s face turned into a smile. 8220;That8217;s what Smartcard isall about, it8217;s a sign of smartness,8221; Shirke said with a feverish sales pitch.

Conductors are given five cards each at major depots, which are sold to passengers after a presentation aboard the bus. Shirke was performing his job well.

8220;Once you get this card, you won8217;t have to worry about small change, and the best thing is, I won8217;t have to shout at you,8221; he beamed and stopped, waiting for the significance of his statement to sink in. A few heads nodded in appreciation. 8220;It costs only Rs 200, and is renewable to any amount,8221; Shirke continued.

Doubts whether the card could be used in all a/c buses yes, of course and its expiry date it has no expiry date were answered with aplomb by Shirke. But indecision continued, till the youth got out at Churchgate. He flashed the card, the validator beeped and the screen announced the amount left.As soon as the bus left Churchgate, three people bought the cards. But when the card was checked out from Poonam Chambers to Churchgate, tragedy struck.

A man goton a bus and placed his card before the validator. No beep. He waited a few seconds. No beep. He waved the card. Still no beep. Desperate, he turned around for help, only to see conductor Parvesh Singh smile sheepishly. 8220;Saab, the machine doesn8217;t work,8221; he said. He was incredulous.

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8220;This is the first day of the scheme, and the machine doesn8217;t work?8221; he asked. As if to prove his point, Singh took the card and waved it in front of the validator, without success. He then proceeded to switch the machine off and on and dabbled with some knobs. Then he placed the card for validation. A series of beeps rang out. And the screen refused to show balance in the account. Singh turned apologetic. 8220;Don8217;t worry, since the screen didn8217;t show the balance, nothing must have been deducted,8221; he said.

But he poured out his woes to the passengers. 8220;How can I ask people to buy these cards if they won8217;t work? I lost three potential customers because of it,8221; he added. The validator went on strike the very first day of itswork, and nobody knows how much money the owner of the Smartcard stood to lose because of it.