Delhi's New-Year gift: One common card for metro, bus travel
After several failed deadlines, Delhiites might finally get a common mobility card for the Delhi Metro and DTC buses this New Year. The project, that was mooted in 2010, was to be launched first in July'16 and then in August'17, but the government couldn't start services then. The card will allow commuters to use one card for travel by metro or bus. Here's more.
Former transport minister Gopal Rai explained: while boarding a bus, a passenger would have to give their card to the conductor, who will swipe it in an e-ticketing machine (ETM). Before deboarding, it will be swiped again. Like the metro, fare would be automatically deducted.
For the system, the Delhi government has procured Secure Access Modules (SAMs) from South Korea; this chip/card will be installed in the ETMs to "enhance the security and cryptography performance" and thus ensure secure transactions. SAMs will store secret keys that will be used to authenticate transactions. DTC had conducted trials last year to check the cards' functioning in buses.
Initially, the mobility card would allow commuters to use their metro cards for traveling on select buses. It will then be extended to all DTC/DIMTS buses. The project was pending due to several factors including financial constraints. But a lot of work has been done in the last months, says Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot. "Many issues including connectivity, coordination etc have been resolved."
