- By Priyanka Payal
- Tue, 30 May 2023 02:21 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Delhi Metro is working expeditiously to upgrade all of its existing Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) systems to be compliant with National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) services. This process will be completed by June this year.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has inked a contract with a consortium to conduct the NCMC and upgrade the whole ecosystem, consisting of Automatic Fare Collection (AFC), enabling commuters to travel through "QR-based tickets, account-based tickets, and near field communications (NFC) media," said a DMRC statement.
Using this service, travellers from any part of the country can use their NCMC-compliant RuPay debit card for travelling purposes. The same card can be used countrywide for shopping, banking, and other purposes.
According to an official DMRC's system would accept transactions from 23 banks using the RuPay debit card issued by them.
At present, the facility of NCMC and QR code ticketing is available only at stations on the 23 km long Airport Express Line of Delhi Metro. It is worth mentioning that Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the NCMC services on the Airport Express Line on December 28, 2021.
In February last year, the DMRC said: The implementation of NCMC & QR tickets will enable seamless travel by metro rails and other transport systems across the country besides retail shopping and purchases. In addition, with Mobile QR and NFC-based tickets, passengers will also be able to use a mobile phone to enter or exit a metro station on its corridors. At present, the Airport Express Line (23 KM) of Delhi Metro from New Delhi to Dwarka Sec-21 (6 stations) is having the NCMC and QR code ticketing facility available at its stations. With the award of this contract, the remaining operational corridors of Delhi Metro will also be equipped with NCMC and QR code-compliant AFC systems by June 2023.
In an official statement, the DMRC system has clarified the usage of the RuPay debit card.
DMRC has said that the metro system will accept RuPay debit card payments from 23 banks and the remaining operational corridors of Delhi Metro will be equipped with new facilities very soon.
Last year, Dr Mangu Singh, MD/DMRC said, “The Implementation of NCMC along with QR Ticket (Paper QR and Mobile QR), Account Based Ticketing (ABT) and NFC Media will push the country towards being a cashless economy. This will enable commuters to have an integrated access to all public transports and they need not to carry/purchase multiple cards for different usage. Implementation of above technology will bring DMRC at par with the leading metros worldwide. These innovations are going to herald a new era of travelling, comfort and enhanced mobility for Delhi-NCR residents.”
DMRC has said that with mobile QR and NFC-based tickets, passengers will be able to use mobile phones for entry and exit at metro stations.