NEW DELHI: Come next year, and one will be able use a debit or credit card to travel in the Delhi Metro.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation plans to upgrade the current software and database for the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system on the existing network, so that it is in line with the new system that will be used in the upcoming Phase IV stations.
A DMRC official said the new system would see enhancement of AFC gates in the entire network, with the primary objective of promoting more digitisation of services, apart from cashless transactions.
The metro corporation is not only upgrading the AFC software, but also the ‘firmware’ that would help commuters in using credit or debit cards of any bank as smart cards. Currently, metros systems at cities like Kochi and Nagpur have the facility but these are applicable only for cards issued by a particular bank.
DMRC’s system will, however, accept transactions from all banks through the Rupay card issued by them. The standalone Airport Express Line will get this system first, followed by the other corridors.
The new system would also help create more ‘fare zones’ in the network, which would help in determining the fare to be deducted from the smart card after a journey, based on the distance travelled.
“Presently the metro system has 32 fare zones. Due to the increase in the network system in the coming years, it is required to upgrade the number of fare zones from 32 to 64. With this increase, we are also required to upgrade the number of maximum stations in the system to 512,” a DMRC spokesperson explained.
Under the new system, ‘penalty deductions’ would also be possible through smart cards. At the moment, a commuter needs to pay an increased value at exit if he travels further than his ticket value, or if he/she stays for a longer duration at the station, or if there’s no ticket. “In such cases, the commuter has to go to customer care and pay by cash the supplement amount even if he has enough balance on his card,” the spokesperson claimed. “The aim of the new function would be to make passengers be able to use the smart card to pay the adjusted amount,” he added.
DMRC will also integrate ‘Point of Sale’ terminals with ticketing machines at customer care of the older Phase-I and Phase-II stations. “This is required to be done to facilitate payment via credit and debit cards,” he added. The upgradation of AFC system across the existing network is expected to start soon and may take a year and a half to complete.
DMRC is also refurbishing older AFC machines to reduce instances of snags. The overhaul exercise includes replacing, as well as adding around 600 AFC machines, which will cover around 40 metro stations of Phase I and Phase II and about 30 stations of Phase III.
There are around 2,700 AFC gates in the entire metro network at present.
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation plans to upgrade the current software and database for the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system on the existing network, so that it is in line with the new system that will be used in the upcoming Phase IV stations.
A DMRC official said the new system would see enhancement of AFC gates in the entire network, with the primary objective of promoting more digitisation of services, apart from cashless transactions.
The metro corporation is not only upgrading the AFC software, but also the ‘firmware’ that would help commuters in using credit or debit cards of any bank as smart cards. Currently, metros systems at cities like Kochi and Nagpur have the facility but these are applicable only for cards issued by a particular bank.
DMRC’s system will, however, accept transactions from all banks through the Rupay card issued by them. The standalone Airport Express Line will get this system first, followed by the other corridors.
The new system would also help create more ‘fare zones’ in the network, which would help in determining the fare to be deducted from the smart card after a journey, based on the distance travelled.
“Presently the metro system has 32 fare zones. Due to the increase in the network system in the coming years, it is required to upgrade the number of fare zones from 32 to 64. With this increase, we are also required to upgrade the number of maximum stations in the system to 512,” a DMRC spokesperson explained.
Under the new system, ‘penalty deductions’ would also be possible through smart cards. At the moment, a commuter needs to pay an increased value at exit if he travels further than his ticket value, or if he/she stays for a longer duration at the station, or if there’s no ticket. “In such cases, the commuter has to go to customer care and pay by cash the supplement amount even if he has enough balance on his card,” the spokesperson claimed. “The aim of the new function would be to make passengers be able to use the smart card to pay the adjusted amount,” he added.
DMRC will also integrate ‘Point of Sale’ terminals with ticketing machines at customer care of the older Phase-I and Phase-II stations. “This is required to be done to facilitate payment via credit and debit cards,” he added. The upgradation of AFC system across the existing network is expected to start soon and may take a year and a half to complete.
DMRC is also refurbishing older AFC machines to reduce instances of snags. The overhaul exercise includes replacing, as well as adding around 600 AFC machines, which will cover around 40 metro stations of Phase I and Phase II and about 30 stations of Phase III.
There are around 2,700 AFC gates in the entire metro network at present.
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