People would soon be able to use same cards to buy bus tickets and for journey on the Metro as Delhi government would make its system compliant with National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) across buses run by DTC and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS). More transit options will be added in the coming years to make travel more convenient.
The transport department would also give the option to buy NCMC-compliant cards to the people.
Transport minister Kailash Gahlot said, “The bids submitted have been technically examined. All the bidders were told to do a demo for a few days. The results have been evaluated.
“Price bids opened and in the coming week work will be awarded,” he said, adding the project would be visible on the ground soon.
Gahlot said, “This could be a gamechanger as it would not just integrate the public transport payment system electronically but also be driving overall digitalisation efforts by unifying various transit operators on a single platform…We may be looking at integrating other services eventually”.
The tender floated by the transport department earlier included the supply and operation of electronic ticketing machines (ETMs) for 7,500 buses in Phase 1.
It also included the provision of smart or NCMC cards for buying tickets. The bidder is also expected to include the mobile app feature to buy online tickets and concessional daily or monthly passes.
With the NCMC cards facilitating multi-modal transit offline payment, Delhi government’s vision is to have a connected network of transport in the city. Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is already NCMC-compliant.
A senior official of the transport department said, “If all goes as per plan, the department would be able to execute it in three months.”
Transport expert and former deputy commissioner of the department Anil Chhikara said, “Once the buses and Metro which are the biggest transit mode come on the common platform through NCMC, we can add other modes of transport like autos and cabs also…This would make people’s journey lot more convenient.
“Consider this (NCMC) like a debit and credit card which can be used for e-commerce, online transaction plus at the transit system with NCMC-enabled technology,” he added.
The complete digital solution, according to officials, will remove any chances of pilferage and theft.
The ETMs will also issue pink tickets enabling women to travel for free.
Delhi has around 7000 buses under DTC and DIMTS and 300 electric buses.
DTC buses ferry 3.3 million passengers on an average. With 4.2 million people using buses for commuting every day, it is most popular form of public transit in the national capital.
The digital ticketing is also part of the route rationalisation study conducted by the transport department. This will help the government know the exact number of people travelling on a particular route, at a given time.
