Zaakpay partners with Odisha’s CRUT and ONDC to digitize bus ticketing

Bhubaneswar: Zaakpay, a wholly owned subsidiary of One MobiKwik Systems Limited, has announced a strategic partnership with Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT),a public transit agency part of the ONDC Network, to launch a chat-based bus ticketing service across Odisha. This initiative aims to simplify and digitize public transport access for over 24 million annual commuters and approximately 36 million rides across the state. Powered by a user-friendly chat interface, this solution enables seamless, smart ticketing directly through WhatsApp, improving accessibility for both rural and urban users.

The digital payment solution is developed for CRUT by PeLocal as the development and integration partner and Zaakpay as the payment gateway. The service is now live across nine major cities, including Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Khordha, Pipili, Puri, Konark, Rourkela, Sambalpur and Berhampur, bringing contactless bus ticket booking directly to users’ phones.

To book tickets on WhatsApp: Open WhatsApp and message“Hi”to+919078050218(CRUT’sofficialnumber). Follow the chatbot instructions to select routes, book tickets and make payments. Download your  digital ticket–all within the WhatsApp chat. Alternatively: Ensure your WhatsApp app is updated. Navigate to Settings>Payments>ChatwithBusinesses. Search for Capital Region UrbanTransport and say“ Hi” to get started.

This chat-based system offers an integrated set of features that make booking faster and more convenient. Users can book and download bus tickets, view recent transactions, access FAQs and submit grievances or feedback–all within WhatsApp. The chatbot supports both English and Odia and operates via simple text-based commands, ensuring ease of use across demographics.

To ensure seamless payments, the platform supports UPI, credit and debit cards and net banking. The digitized ticketing model reduces reliance on physical tickets and cash, shortens wait times at transit points and contributes to a more sustainable and efficient transit ecosystem.

“Our partnership with CRUT is a step towards redefining mobility by making it easier and more accessibleforeveryone.ThroughthesimplicityofWhatsApp,weareenablingafrictionlessdigital payment experience that will inspire millions of Indians to embrace cashless travel in public transport and beyond,” said Abhishek Mukherji, Vice President & Business Head, Zaakpay.

Speaking about the partnership, Dr. N Thirumala Naik, IAS, Managing Director, CRUT, said, “At CRUT, our vision has always been to make urban transport smarter, more inclusive and commuter-friendly. The WhatsApp-based ticketing solution is another step towards digital empowerment and convenience for our citizens. By integrating technology with transit mobility, we are not only simplifying the travel experience but also encouraging more people to adopt sustainable transport options.”

Vibhor Jain, Acting CEO and COO at ONDC, said: “The open rails of the ONDC Network are unlockingpublictransportinventoryinOdisha–makingitdigitallyaccessibleforall.WithCRUT’s bus ticketing integrated onto the network, commuters can seamlessly discover and book their rides through a simplified WhatsApp interface, developed by Pelocal with secured payments poweredbyZaakpay.Together,suchinnovationsdemonstratehowopennetworksarelayingthe foundation for the future of multimodal mobility, with a vision to seamlessly unify every mode of daily commute into one digital experience for India.”

Zaakpay is among the four leading payment gateways directly integratedwith Meta’s WhatsApp for Business, offering a native and embedded payment experience. Licensed as a Payment Aggregator by the RBI since April 2025, Zaakpay powers digital payments for major transport players, including Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Indraprastha Gas Limited (IGL).