DTC says it will fix common card issues

NEW DELHI: The recently launched common mobility card project of the Delhi government is already facing teething troubles. Delhi Transport Corporation, however, is ironing all issues hampering the smooth implementation of the initiative.

With the launch of this ambitious project, Delhi has joined the ranks of London, Hong Kong and Singapore, who all have a common mobility card that can be used to travel in both metro and public transport buses.

Though it was not publicised, DTC started equipping its fleet of 4,000 buses with Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETM), which are used to swipe Delhi Metro cards to deduct bus fare, from the first week of August itself. The 1,757 buses operating under the cluster scheme, managed by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS), has also been equipped with ETMs. It was only on Friday that Delhi government came out with advertisements declaring that Delhi Metro cards can now be used to travel in city buses.

In a reality check carried out by TOI on Friday, it was found that while the process of using metro cards in cluster scheme buses is very smooth, the same can’t be said about DTC buses. Most DTC bus conductors are unwilling to accept cards and prefer a cash transaction. Many complained that the ETMs malfunction frequently. DTC’s managing director Manoj Kumar told TOI that all bus conductors have been trained to use ETMs. He said that action would be taken against those conductors who refuse to accept payment from metro cards. On the issue of ETMs facing frequent technical glitches, Kumar said that the issue has been taken up with the vendor who has provided the machines to DTC.

With only a ‘soft launch’ of the common mobility card, many commuters are still not aware of the facility. “We are going to put up creative on the body of some of our buses. Stickers will be put up inside buses, near the seat of the conductor, which will tell passengers that they can pay through their smart cards also,” Kumar said.

“Just finished a review meeting with the DTC MD and all senior management of DTC to discuss progress in rollout of Common Mobility Card in buses. All DTC officials (are) told to carry out surprise checks daily and ensure project’s success (sic),” Delhi’s transport minister Kailash Gahlot tweeted on Saturday.