Delhi Metro Soon To Introduce Cashless and Touchless Transactions In The Wake Of Covid-19 Pandemic

QR code-based ticketing system will be available Delhi Metros in a move to make it cashless and touchless due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic.

New Delhi: Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will soon introduce cashless and touchless transactions for commuters through the QR code-based ticketing system which is currently only available in the airport express line. DMRC plans to make the QR code system available on its 9 corridors by 2022. DMRC is doing this as per the National Common Mobility Card standard model specified by the Union housing and urban affairs ministry. National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in December last year.

Accoridng to a Hindustan Times report, traveller will have to register on the mobile application, Ridlr, using mobile number and email ID. Then they can buy QR tickets by selecting the starting point, the destination station and the number of passengers who will travel. There is a cap of 6 tickets in one purchase. 

Anuj Dayal, executive director, corporate communication, DMRC, was quoted by IANS as saying, "In order to upgrade ticketing technology, DMRC envisages to upgrade the existing Automatic Fare Collection System to enable the QR Code, EMV (Account Based Ticketing) and Rupay based open loop ticketing following the NCMC standard model as specified by MoHUA (Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs) for interoperability with other operators by use of non-proprietary standards so that the interface is scalable to other networks (transit operator/retail outlets/parking etc.) in Delhi/NCR."

He added,"Delhi Metro has invited Expressions of Interest (EOI) for implementation of QR Code, EMV enabled Account Bases Ticketing (Master/VISA), and RUPAY based Open Loop Ticketing in DMRC including Comprehensive Maintenance of AFC system of Phase I, II and III stations of supplied equipments/parts."

Metros started working in September 2020 in a restricted manner, after almost five months of break which putting it in a huge loss. The DMRC appealed to the Centre to revise the safety protocols to allow it to operate trains with at least full seating capacity to make up for the revenue shortfall. Only 50-60 passengers in total can now travel in a coach, which in pre-COVID time carried 300-350 people during the peak hours, the full seating capacity of the metro is 50.