One Nation One Card Mobility Card to Go Live at Delhi Phase IV Metro Stations

 

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

 

Delhi Metro – Major Stress Point – Shortage of coins !!!

            A visit to Delhi is incomplete without a Metro ride.  With a network spanning over 200 kms and growing every quarter, the metro is a boon for delhities.

            The network has gone beyond the boundaries of Delhi to reach NOIDA and Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh and Gurgaon in Haryana.

            The average number of passengers ferried by Delhi Metro is 28,00,000 per day. On holidays and festival days, the average number goes up by another 1-2lacs.

            The lifeline of the Delhi Metro finances is its tickets collections. Apart from tickets the other sources of income are permits for film shooting in its stations/trains, advertisements and vendor outlets.

            The fare rates range from INR8 to INR42.  This means either the commuter or the ticket issuance staff should compulsory have currency coins to complete the ticket transaction.

The main challenge is collect the ticket fares with minimum fuss at the ticket issuance counters.

Ticket purchase Choices for Delhi Metro commuters: -

01) RFID Tokens:- Valid for single journey on the day of purchase.  The RFID Token has to be purchased by the commuter before beginning the journey at the Metro ticket counter. Basing on the destination station, the ticket fare is loaded into the RFID token. Entry to the travel area at the originating station is by display of the RFID token at the electronic turnstile. Exit at the destination station is by dropping the RFID token at the designated slot at the electronic turnstile.

02)Tourist Cards:  Two types of tourist cards are available. One Day tourist card costing INR 150. Three day tourist card costing INR300. These cards are suitable for unlimited travel for 1day or 3 days depending on the amount loaded into the tourist card.

03)Travel Cards: Valid for one year from the purchase date and is the preferred mode for frequent commuters.  Minimum recharge of INR 100 is mandatory with a maximum recharge of INR1000/-. As the ticket fare is pre-funded, 10% discount is offered on all the trips made on this travel card.

At present, 70% of the commuters prefer travel cards either the tourist card or the normal travel card.

      One drawback in the tourist cards is the INR50 refundable deposit. This discourages tourists from opting for tourist cards.

      The 70% figure has been achieved by consistent encouragement by Delhi Metro Staff to the commuters and it has been stagnant for quite some time now.

      The chief stress point for the Metro ticketing staff is the coins shortage at their counters.

On an average every day, Metro faces a shortfall of around "3 lakh coins".  There are situations where passengers often forgo the change amount, leading to many of them lashing out at the staff.

      After multiple brain storming sessions,  Delhi Metro on Sunday (22/02/2015)  set up an "exact change counters" across 20 busiest stations on its network to curtail queuing or waiting time for passengers.

As the name connotes, at these ‘exact change counters’, only those passengers who tender exact change can buy tokens.

"This will avoid any queuing or waiting time for passengers as they won't have to wait for return change after buying the tokens," a DMRC official said.

The stations where these counters have been made operational are - New Delhi, Chandni Chowk, Rajiv Chowk, Anand Vihar, Shahdara, HUDA City Centre, Jahangirpuri, Uttam Nagar East, Saket, Dilshad Garden, Kashmere Gate, Badarpur, AIIMS, Vaishali, Karol Bagh, Seelampur, M G Road, Noida City Centre, R K Ashram and Dwarka Mor.

At the same time to encourage the remaining 30% commuters to switch to CashLess mode, DMRC has also installed 'Point of Sale' (POS) machines at its 73 stations including all stations of the Airport Express Line to facilitate cashless transaction for passengers who wish to recharge their smart cards by using credit or debit cards.

"These machines are available at 'Customer Care Centre' of those stations and passengers can get their smart cards recharged by using their credit/debit cards thus eliminating the need for carrying cash to the counter all the time.

Delhi metro

Delhi metro

            Delhi metro commuters can now save 10% on each journey. Yes, this is true; just use the Delhi Metro Smart Card for all your delhi metro journeys. Simple, isn’t it?

            The another major advantage is the flexibility to terminate/extend journey without pre planning (Fare will be deducted only till the station you exit from).

            Delhi metro commuters can complete recharge process in 3 easy smart steps, at a dedicated portal.

In just 3 easy steps you can recharge your smart card.

1. Go to Quick TopUp or E-Services section and enter your smart card engraved id (Given on Back Side of Smart Card), amount and email id.  
2. Then use your Credit Card/Debit Card for secure payment.
3. After completion of Online Payment, Visit Add Value Machine (AVM) installed at selected Metro Stations (Near EFO/Customer Care). Show your Smart Card on AVM, Press Add Value button on Screen of AVM to complete the recharge process.

The AVM step can be interpreted as 2 Factor Authentication for safety of the metro commuters.

Smart Card is multi Journey ticket that stores value to pay your Delhi Metro transport fare.

Ticket Reader Cum Add Value Machines, have been installed at 13 Metro stations of the Delhi Metro network as given below:

1.     Dilshad Garden

2.    Shahdara

3.    Welcome

4.    Seelampur

5.    Shastri Park

6.    Pragati Maidan

7.    Karkarduma

8.    Nirman Vihar

9.    Laxmi Nagar

10.  Barakhamba

11.  R K Ashram Marg

12.  Jhandewalan

13.  Rajendra Place

In the near future, hundred such machines will be installed. The machines will also provide commuters with information about balance in the smart card, last recharge details and the last five entry-exit transactions.