Paan or a cup of tea, no cash needed, pay through mobile in this Gujarat township

Want to buy a toffee, a cup of tea or a 'paan', just pay with your mobile. This township of Gujarat Narmada Valley Fertilizers and Chemicals Limited ( GNFC ) is 100 per cent cashless. All transactions are made through card swipe machines, GNFC website, mobile application, e-wallet and mobile payments through USSD /UPI and Bhim App. All micro entrepreneurs from barber to 'dhobi', from 'paanwala' to 'chaiwala', do transactions through cashless means only in this township.

Help desks have been set up to assist customers and vendors. Hundred per cent digital payments are made and POS machines have been installed for transactions, including canteen operations in company as well as educational institutions. There are around 50 POS machines in shopping centres, schools, canteens, hospital , Sports Complex, guest house, a temple and other establishments where around 5,500 people live in this township. Nitin Detroja, a 'paanwala' , says he does all his transactions through POS machine and pays 1 -1.5 per cent charges and the machine rental to the bank. He charges Rs 15 for a 'paan'.

The whole shopping complex is Wi-Fi enabled and no password is needed. It is free for customers and housewives can do all the transactions even if they don't have data on their phones. There is no problem of change, says Birju, owner of a department store here. He told UNI that customers were making purchases through cards, and other cashless means. The land and shops in the complex are owned by the GNFC. Shops are given on monthly rent for 2-3 year period and there are 30-odd outlets in this shopping complex. There are 81 cashless townships in India, including 56 in Gujarat alone, M P Shah, Sr Manager, Systems in GNFC told UNI.