R ARIVANANTHAM
CHENNAI, NOV 10
In a significant step toward enhancing commuter convenience and digital transformation in public transport, the Tamil Nadu Government is gearing up to introduce WhatsApp-based ticket booking for all state-run bus services. Soon, passengers will be able to book, pay, and receive e-tickets directly on their smartphones, marking a new era in cashless travel across the state.
Proud day for Chennai & MTC to be awarded the ‘City with the Best Public Transport System’ in recognition of its legacy & various citizen service initiatives. Kudos to all the MTC staff. Our responsibility has only increased now.Will endeavour to serve Chennai bigger & better! https://t.co/1GxTtTWDQ6 pic.twitter.com/Buu4TlND8V
— Prabhushankar T Gunalan (@prabhusean7) November 9, 2025
The initiative—spearheaded by the Tamil Nadu Mobility and Logistics Corporation Limited (TNMLC) under the State Transport Department—seeks to unify ticketing operations of the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC), Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporations (TNSTCs), and Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) under one digital platform.
“This move is part of our larger vision to make Tamil Nadu’s transport ecosystem completely digital, passenger-friendly, and transparent. WhatsApp ticketing will bring convenience to every household—from urban commuters to passengers in remote towns,” said Transport Minister S. S. Sivasankar.
The TNMLC has floated tenders to empanel multiple payment gateway service providers for seamless integration with its Online Ticket Reservation System (OTRS). The upgraded platform will support multiple payment options including UPI, debit and credit cards, QR-based systems, and wallets such as Google Pay, PhonePe, and WhatsApp Pay.
According to TNMLC Managing Director Dr. M. S. Shanmugam, “Our OTRS already manages nearly 6 lakh bookings a month, with over 85% coming from online and mobile platforms. The WhatsApp interface will make ticketing accessible even to those who aren’t tech-savvy, especially in semi-urban and rural areas.”
Launched in 2011, the OTRS has steadily evolved into a robust digital framework. The upcoming upgrade will feature a 24×7 bilingual helpdesk in Chennai, managed by payment gateway partners to handle booking and transaction queries in Tamil and English.
Officials said that once operational, the system would benefit thousands of daily commuters using SETC and TNSTC’s over 5,000 buses, including luxury, sleeper, and air-conditioned services.
“Digital inclusion is no longer a choice—it’s a necessity. This upgrade ensures no commuter is left behind, while also strengthening revenue transparency and operational efficiency,” the Minister added.
With WhatsApp emerging as one of India’s most widely used digital platforms, the state’s move positions Tamil Nadu among the first in the country to fully integrate public transport ticketing into the messaging ecosystem, aligning with the government’s broader goal of ‘Digital Tamil Nadu 2030.’
