Integrated ticketing system could start in MMRDA region by April, 2021

@hepzia

UMMTA all set to roll out Single card to access all modes of transportation in MMRDA 

Mumbai: Before next April, Mumbai should get an Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) in place, if things go as per schedule. The system entails a single QR-based smart card that could be used seamlessly across the various modes of transport systems functional in Mumbai metropolitan region, from the railways, the BEST buses, the Monorail, Metro, app-based taxis, auto rickshaws and even the kaali-peeli cabs.

Mumbai is probably one of the first cities in the country to introduce this system of seamless, multi-modal transport ticketing systems. The MMRDA wants this system to be in place before its Metro 2A (Dahisar to DN Nagar) and Metro- 7 (Dahisar to Andheri (E), routes get operational by April, 2021. 

This proposal has been in the offing over the past four years now. On July 24, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regional Development Authority (MMRDA) which is pushing the project issued tenders to call for a mobile app technology partner to development and operate the Common Mobility App (CMA) as also for a banking partner to handle issuing and handling contactless ITS cards for ticketing transactions of the automatic fare collection (ACF) integration services. 

Also Read: Teacher’s body questions state decision to conduct oral exams for Class IX, XI students

This is part of the overall National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) system, that was to be introduced across the country some time back, but is yet to see the light of the day. 

“We kept waiting for the NCMC to materialise but since that did not seem happening for now, we went ahead and launched our own system here. As and when the NCMC gets activated, our ITS cards will be connected with it,” informed B .G. Pawar, joint metropolitan commissioner of MMRDA told thenews21.

At a later stage, the single ITS cards could act as an access card to enter transport premises like railway and metro stations, later when retractable flap barrier gates at entry points are likely to be introduced. The railways are already introducing a QR-based entry system from July 30 onwards, though railway stations currently do not have automatic QR-based entry gates in place as of now.

However, the MMRDA has clarified that booking windows and offline entry points will always be kept optional keeping in mind the interests of the average commuter. “Not all commuters have access to banking systems or android phones and hence booking windows will continue to exist alongside. Also, there continue to be people who prefer to deal in cash and are apprehensive of sharing banking details with others and options need to be offered for such passengers,” observed Pawar. At a later stage, the ITS cards could also be used for paying other transport related services like toll charges and parking fees.  

The whole concept of the Integrated Ticketing System (ITS) is the roll out of the Unified Mumbai Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMMTA) which was set up in February 2008. The UMMTA was set up to ensure seamless, efficient, integration and coordination between different agencies and different modes of transport within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).