Passengers using the Delhi Metro have been facing difficulties in purchasing new smart cards for fare payments. Many ticket counters at metro stations have run out of stock, and station staff are informing commuters that new cards are not available.
Key Points:
- Unavailability of Smart Cards: Staff at the metro stations are informing passengers that there are no new cards available due to a shortage of supplies. This has been a growing concern for passengers relying on the metro’s smart cards for their daily commute.
- Transition to Common Mobility Cards: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is slowly shifting towards the Common Mobility Card (NCMC), which can be used not only on the metro but also on buses, rail services, and other modes of transportation. This initiative is part of a broader push to enhance the use of these cards, which is one of the reasons why the issuance of traditional smart cards is being reduced.
Passenger Concerns:
- Many passengers, including daily commuters, have expressed concerns about the non-availability of the smart cards. One such passenger, Kumar Navang, mentioned that he had tried purchasing a new card from several stations but was turned away due to a lack of availability.
- Some passengers have been forced to rely on QR code tickets, which, while functional, are not as convenient for regular users as smart cards.
DMRC’s Position:
- The DMRC has acknowledged the issue and has stated that they are moving toward the NCMC to streamline fare payments across various forms of public transport.
- With this change, the usage of the traditional metro smart cards will gradually decrease, making way for the new Common Mobility Card.
Future Outlook:
- The Common Mobility Card is already available at many metro stations, offering a more versatile solution for commuters. The transition is expected to reduce the dependency on traditional smart cards.
- Metro officials are hopeful that in the coming months, the transition will be smoother, and passengers will become more accustomed to using the Common Mobility Card.
Summary of Key Information:
Issue | Details |
---|---|
Unavailability of Smart Cards | Metro stations have run out of new smart cards. |
DMRC’s Plan | Transition to Common Mobility Cards (NCMC). |
Passenger Concern | Commuters are unable to get smart cards and are relying on alternative ticketing methods. |
Solution Offered | The Common Mobility Card can be used for metro, buses, and other transport systems. |
This move is part of DMRC’s larger plan to integrate a unified transportation payment system across different modes of public transport, making commuting easier and more flexible for the public in the long run.