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Delhi Metro Rail Corporation closes token counters to promote smart cards

Stations having traffic of more than 5,000 commuters a day will have both token counters and TVMs

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The step has been taken to promote use of smart cards
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In order to promote the usage of smart cards or ticket vending machines (TVM), the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is closing down counters at Metro stations that have less footfall. Keeping in tandem with this plan, all the Metro stations being developed under Phase III, will only have TVMs. Only interchange Metro stations will have the facility of both token counters and machines.

The rail body has till now closed counters that sold tokens, at as many as 118 of its over 180 stations across Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR). Meanwhile, it has also installed more than 520 ticketing machines till now. Only stations that have passenger traffic of more than 5,000 commuters a day will have both token counters and TVMs to facilitate travel.

Considering that people may face initial trouble in operating the machines, with some calibration issues ailing the TVMs off and on, the Metro has deployed staff to assist in purchasing the tokens. Some of the stations that were amongst the first to have token counters removed were Udyog Bhawan, Lok Kalyan Marg, Jor Bagh, Akshardham, Mayur Vihar I, Mandi House and Barakhamba Road.

According to a senior official of the DMRC, the agency wants to boost the use of smart card amongst all its users, which is one reason that token counters are being shut. Another reason is to bring human interference in purchasing tickets to the minimum. The DMRC also received reports of ticket counter operators fleecing commuters by often refusing to return the exact change. Currently, around 80 per cent of Metro commuters use smart cards for their travel.

Recently, the DMRC integrated the Common Mobility Card in its feeder buses and a few of the parking lots of its network. The Metro smart card users, who are using feeder buses, can now use their smart cards for making payment for travel in these buses. The Metro is currently running a fleet of more than 200 feeder buses in the national Capital covering over 40 routes spanning across different lines of the Metro network.

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