Delhiites have to wait for a pretty long time to use the NCMC Mobility card at Delhi Metro stations.
As per the current plans, Delhiites
will be able to use the NCMC on the Delhi Phase 4 metro stations.
The first train under Delhi Metro
Phase 4 is planned to go live only in 2024 or 2026.
The exact launch dates will be announced
once the construction works pick up speed and there is clarity on the end
dates.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in
March 2019 had launched the indigenously-developed NCMC to enable people to pay
multiple kinds of transport charges, including for metro and bus services
across the country, through a common card.
However, in a major boost to travelers
on the Delhi Metro Airport Express Lines, NCMC is expected to go live by this
year-end.
Basically, the Delhi Metro
Airport Express Train Line is independent of the main DMRC. It has its own AFC (Automatic
Fare Collection) system. Hence, its bit easy for DMRC to integrate the NCMC into
the Airport Express AFC.
The Delhi Metro Airport Express
train line, known as the Orange Line, opened in February 2011.
A much-anticipated part of
Delhi's expanding Metro train network, it cuts travel time to Delhi airport from
at least one hour to about 20 minutes.
Trains, imported from Spain,
travel the 22 kilometers (13.7 miles) at 120 kilometers per hour. Almost 16
kilometers (10 miles) of the track are underground.
DMRC Chief Mangu Singh Quote
“We are working to continuously
improve our system, with better technological and other interventions, to
improve our rolling stocks and energy efficiency. In Ph-IV, our AFC system will
fully accept the national common mobility cards, which can be used in any
cities,” he told PTI.
“Also, a mobile phone will
effectively work as smart card, and riders will be able to use to enter or exit
the AFC gates, in Ph-IV lines,” Mr. Singh said.
The managing director of the
Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, however, underlined that e-payment system and technology
are fast-evolving and by the time the Ph-IV work is complete, new technologies
may emerge.
“But, we have been working on it
for quite some time, and the facilities of NCMC and entry and exit using mobile
phones might be available by the end of this year on the Airport Express Line”
he added.
Unquote
Under the approved segment of Phase-IV, 61.679-km of new metro lines shall be constructed across three different corridors comprising 45 metro stations.
These new sections shall
provide interconnectivity among the already operational lines of the Delhi
Metro. Out of this, 22.35 kilometres
will be underground.
The 3 approved corridors are:
Mukundpur-Maujpur - 08 stations
R K Ashram-Janakpuri West 22 stations
Aerocity-Tughlakabad - 15
stations