Chennai: MTC ticketing glitch disrupts digital payments, inconveniences commuters

A technical glitch disrupted the functioning of the electronic ticketing machines of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) in Chennai on Monday (February 16, 2026) morning, inconveniencing commuters and prompting complaints from passengers. Conductors were unable to accept digital payments or issue electronic receipts, and tickets were issued only in printed form against cash payments.

S. Manohar, a commuter from Avadi, said he was surprised to see conductors issuing printed tickets in the morning hours and accepting only cash payments. When he inquired, the conductor informed him that electronic tickets were not being issued due to the technical snag.

A senior MTC official said a software issue in the electronic machines prevented conductors from issuing tickets to commuters using the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) or paying through the Unified Payments Interface (UPI). Consequently, they had to issue printed tickets and accept cash payments.

However, commuters using the ‘Chennai One’ card of the Chennai Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (CUMTA) did not face any issues. The official added that the problem was being resolved and that electronic ticketing machines would be restored for the second shift, in the afternoon.

The MTC issues nearly 1.5 lakh tickets daily through digital payment modes such as NCMC and UPI, in addition to serving regular passengers across the 3,300 buses it operates everyday.