Traders in Utraula Protest UPI Charges, Submit Memorandum
Traders in Balrampur's Utraula protested against UPI transaction charges, demanding immediate removal of the fee to protect their businesses.
बलरामपुर उत्तर प्रदेश | अनिरुद्ध प्रताप शुक्ल
Traders Protest UPI Charges in Utraula, Submit Memorandum
Utraula, Balrampur | October 9, 2026: In the town of Utraula, Balrampur district, Uttar Pradesh, traders staged a strong protest at the tehsil premises on Monday against additional charges levied on digital payment systems, particularly the Unified Payments Interface (UPI).
Led by Shiv Kumar Gupta, President of the Vyapar Mandal Utraula, and General Secretary Gurvinder Singh, the assembled traders voiced their discontent by chanting slogans against the government's decision. Following the protest, a delegation of traders met with Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Yogendra Sharan Shah.
They submitted a memorandum addressed to the Chief Minister, demanding the immediate removal of the UPI charges imposed on digital payments. The memorandum highlighted that in the current business environment, accepting payments via UPI has become essential for all traders, both small and large, as it serves as an indispensable convenience for customers.
Traders Concerned Over Digital Payment Fees
The traders argued that UPI charges would impose an additional burden on small businesses, potentially impacting their operations negatively. They expressed concerns that these fees would not only reduce traders' profits but could also discourage customers from using digital payments, thereby affecting business volume.
They emphasized the need for the digital payment system to be structured in a manner that protects the interests of both customers and traders. A large number of local businessmen participated in the protest, including Vikas Gupta, Ankur Gupta, Surendra Srivastava, Faiz Khan, Om Prakash Gupta, Rajkumar, Govind Gupta, Charan Singh, Arvind Kasudhan, Arjun Gupta, Ram Prakash Gupta, Santosh Gupta, Amit Kumar, Suresh Gupta, and Adil Hussain. All unanimously stated that business interests should not be overlooked and their concerns must be taken seriously.
Administration Assures Action
Sub-Divisional Magistrate Yogendra Sharan Shah assured the traders of appropriate action after receiving the memorandum. He stated that the traders' demands would be conveyed to the government. Currently, the traders' attention is focused on the decision at the government level, which could provide a permanent solution to this issue.