Soon, no queues at select stations

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is going to install automatic token vending machines at Central Secretariat, Barakhamba Road and Delhi Vishwavidyalaya metro stations, reports Atul Mathur.

In about one-and-a-half months from now, you won't have to stand in queue to buy tokens to travel in the Metro in three selected stations.

HT Image

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is going to install automatic token vending machines at Central Secretariat, Barakhamba Road and Delhi Vishwavidyalaya metro stations.

The best part is these machines, said senior DMRC officials, will accept currency notes of the denomination of Rs 10, Rs 50 and Rs 100 along with Re 1, Rs 2 and Rs 5 coins. And return change, if any.

“It will be a touch-screen machine with a map of the Metro network. The commuter can choose between English and Hindi languages. The prototypes are being currently being tested. We hope to install them by the end of April,” DMRC spokesperson Anuj Dayal said.

Apart from tokens, daily commuters will also be able to recharge their smart cards on these machines — with cash and credit cards.

The DMRC will deploy its staff to guide commuters for the first few days. “It will reduce pressure on manual ticketing counters,” said Dayal.

According to DMRC officials, one automatic ticketing machine was installed at Rajeev Chowk metro station two years ago, which had worked for few days. Based on its functioning and feedback from commuters, the DMRC had suggested some changes, which have been incorporated in the new machines.

With metro ridership expected to touch 20 million by 2021, DMRC plans to have automatic machines on almost all stations.

“We also a plan to have automatic ticketing. We are contemplating to call global tenders soon for this system,” Dayal said.