Commuters of the Namma Metro can now travel without a smart card or physical token. They will be able to buy the tickets on their smartphones using the ‘Namma Metro’ mobile application.
QR-based tickets
From October 2022 onwards, Namma Metro passengers can travel without a smart card or physical token. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has decided to introduce QR-based tickets which will allow commuters to buy tickets through the ‘Namma Metro’ mobile application.
Commuters will be able to purchase tickets through a mobile app by specifying the origin, destination, and number of passengers. This will allow commuters to save time and avoid long queues for buying tickets at the metro stations, reported Times Now.
The app will show the QR code, which can be shared at the QR-enabled Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) gates at Metro stations.
Once the new system begins, the commuters will no longer need to carry plastic smartcards and wait in long queues for physical tickets/tokens and top-ups. However, commuters can still buy tokens and use smartcards as they will still remain valid along with the new system.
“Passengers can place the QR-code tickets on the Namma Metro app. Once they enter a station, passengers could place the QR-code electronic ticket against a scanner at the AFC gate to gain entry to the platform level,” said BMRCL managing director Anjum Parwez, reported TOI.
Advanced AFC gates
Advanced NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) and QR-code-compliant AFC gates have been installed at the new Phase two Metro stations from the start unlike the old AFC gates at Phase one Metro stations.
However, AFC gates in all Metro stations are now compatible with both QR-code and open-loop NCMC.
Additionally, the QR-code-based ticket users will also be allowed a five percent discount. Currently, the five percent discount is applicable only to smart card users.
“We will start with QR-based ticketing from next month and NCMC will be rolled out later. In the first phase, it will be available only through the Namma Metro app and will allow other digital wallet firms to provide this facility. We will provide a five percent discount to QR-code users,” said Parwez, the TOI report added.
