Daily commuters using railway stations in Chennai continue to face difficulties in paying parking fees digitally, even though the Railways has mandated cashless payment options at all parking lots. The situation persists at several busy stations including Chennai Central, Egmore, Tambaram, and Guindy, where many parking contractors still demand cash-only payments.

While the Centre’s Digital India campaign has tried to promote seamless digital transactions, the ground reality at these key transit points exposes gaps in implementation and enforcement.

Passengers forced to carry cash

For tech-savvy commuters and those trying to avoid handling cash, this is a daily frustration. Several regular users report that even when QR codes are displayed, the staff often refuse to accept payments through UPI apps or debit/credit cards, citing “technical issues” or “network problems.”

“They just say ‘cash only’ and refuse to let you go until you pay in cash. It feels like they are deliberately avoiding digital to pocket the money without records,” said Rohini S., a marketing executive who parks at Egmore station.

Passengers also say that digital payment attempts are met with resistance or excuses, sometimes even rude behaviour.

Railways: Digital payment is mandatory

A senior railway official from the Southern Railway zone confirmed that all parking contractors are contractually bound to accept digital modes of payment including UPI, wallets, and cards. He further clarified that any refusal to do so is a direct breach of contract terms.

“If commuters face such problems, they are advised to call the railway helpline or lodge complaints on the RailMadad platform. We will take action against the contractor if found guilty,” the official added.

This provision is part of the broader Indian Railways initiative to make all passenger-facing services digitally enabled, including ticketing, catering, and parking. The official emphasized that the failure of parking contractors to adhere is not due to lack of policy but due to poor enforcement and lack of passenger feedback.

Contractors blame network, technical delays

On the other hand, some parking staff claim poor mobile network inside multi-level parking areas and malfunctioning QR code systems as the reason for not enabling UPI transactions. Others argue that commission and transaction delays discourage them from accepting digital payments.

But critics say these are flimsy excuses, especially when railway contracts already provide for such contingencies, and contractors have been given sufficient time and training to implement digital infrastructure.

“There is zero justification for refusing digital payments in 2025. The government has gone out of its way to enable UPI penetration even in rural areas,” said a senior retired railway official.

Lack of awareness among passengers

Another dimension of the problem is the lack of awareness among passengers about their rights. Many people do not know that digital payments are mandatory, or that they can complain against contractors who refuse to accept them.

“I didn’t know we could complain. I thought they were allowed to collect cash,” said one commuter at Chennai Central, reflecting a general sentiment among the public.

Railway authorities are now being urged to increase public awareness by putting up clear signboards, posters, and audio announcements stating the digital payment policy and the helpline number.

Calls for tighter monitoring and penalties

Passenger rights groups and civic activists are now calling on the Railways to proactively audit the parking lots, check whether QR systems are in place, and even impose fines or suspend contracts for repeated violations.

“This is not just about convenience. It’s about transparency, accountability, and ensuring that government policies are enforced at ground level,” said Karthik M, a member of the Chennai Commuter Forum.

They argue that unless strict action is taken, contractors will continue to ignore digital mandates, as there is no immediate consequence for doing so.

A step backward in a digital age

With digital transactions now deeply integrated into Indian daily life—from vegetable vendors to toll booths—parking lots at railway stations should not be an exception. The current situation in Chennai is seen as a setback for India’s digital economy goals.

While the Indian Railways has made considerable progress in ticket booking digitisation and QR-based platform access, the persistence of cash-only parking contractors shows a gap that needs immediate attention.

Conclusion

In a city like Chennai, where lakhs of commuters depend on suburban trains and station parking every day, refusal to accept digital payments creates avoidable inconvenience, breeds corruption, and undermines public policy. The Railways must step up enforcement, and passengers must be encouraged to speak out against violations to make cashless parking a functional reality.

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