A slice from the Life of a Mumbai Local Train Commuter

Yesterday I was travelling back home in mumbai local, when this incidence happened.

The train was about to reach Ram Mandir station and I was enjoying music on my mobile with noise cancelling ear plugs on. Suddenly I saw a commotion around and it took a second to realise that something was not right.

So I pulled out my noise cancelling ear plugs and looked around. To my horror, there was black smoke filling the adjoining 2nd class compartment and people were screaming, trying to jump off the train on to the tracks. Someone near me jumped to pull the chain to stop the train but in the mean time, it reached Ram Nagar station platform.

Fortunately, a few wise people calmed the crowed so no body panicked and we got off the train.

Railway staff arrived to inspect and in next 5 minutes the smoke that was coming from the underbelly of the compartment subsided.

Probably the railways thought that to terminate this train at Ram Mandir station would block the track for other trains. So after 10 mins all passangers boarded the same train. I got off 2 stations ahead at Kandivali n probably the train would have been sent to yard for inspection when it terminated at Borivali.

Mumbai teaches you to be cool n practical in handling challenges in daily life

- Mumbai Local Daily Commuter

India, a CashLess economy by the year 2020!

You must be thinking I am day dreaming. Well not. A few years ago, I read this book 'Mobile Wave' by Michael Saylor in which he had predicted a trend that people will visit brick n mortar store to see the product, search it online to buy it for the best price. 6 months ago, Amazon has launched its App which offers bar code scanner. Scan the product tag in a mall and check it's price on Amazon.

Let's understand why do we need cash in our daily life? To pay for taxi, buy vegetable and fruits, buying grocery at kirana store or to pay wage to maid, doctor's fee etc. We do not have an alternate at the moment unlike for Bill Payments where online options are available and gaining popularity.

New developments that will provide platform to launch an easier and convenient alternate to cash

1. Jan Dhan Yojna - Once entire country is covered under it, everyone will be having a debit card (a mode of payment) and bank account (where one can receive the payment digitally).

2. Digital India - With 4G rollingout and internet in every village implemented, Mobile companies envision the dream of Pehela phone smartphone and with acceptance of Whatsapp and similar apps among senior citizens will lead to easy adaptation of technology among masses.

Recently I observed a progressive Kirana store (in tier 2 town Katni in M.P.) mentioning his WhatsApp number on the display board, expecting to receive his customer's shopping list online for home delivery.

3. Payment Banks, Digital Wallets and Mobile POS - RBI is soon going to give licences to payment banks which will largely operate in tier 2 and 3 markets. ICICI Bank pockets, or HDFC Bank Chillr app that allows one to transfer money to anyone in your phone book. May by WhatApp add a digital wallet feature to it. Today e-tailers offer card payment option even on Cash on Delivery mode. The courier person carries a mini POS (card swipe) machine connected to his mobile phone.

So this Kirana store guy will receive the shopping list on his WhatApp prepare the packet for deliver send confirmation WhatsApp message to his customer receive payment through Digital Wallet (Pocket, Chillr etc) and send the goods for delivery.

4. National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI) - I believe that NPCI will in near future launch a mobile payment gateway app as it did with RuPay which helped to bring down the transaction cost. Hence business owners will be forthcoming to adopt it (unlike Credit card or Debit card where they beat approx 2% cost).

With every India having a smartphone, internet access, a bank account and a debit card by the year 2020, money will be paid not in cash but digitally.