The Delhi Metro has been a boon for everyday travellers since its inception in 2002, making it hassle-free to navigate through the city. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) comes out with innovative features every now and then to upgrade its services. On May 8, it introduced QR code-based paper tickets for travel on all its routes, stating that the plan is to phase out physical tokens.
Activating the QR-based paper ticketing system, DMRC has upgraded its Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) gates and token/customer care centres- people can now opt for QR code-based paper tickets other than travel cards and tokens across all stations across the network. For the initial phase, the DMRC has upgraded two gates at every metro station to enable entry and exit using QR code-based paper tickets.
DMRC officials say the aim is to introduce mobile-based QR tickets to make travelling in the metro smoother and more convenient. This initiative has come to eliminate the need for human intervention by standing in queues to purchase tickets or tokens, which makes travel time lengthier.
Travellers have welcomed this time-saving move and are opting for the newly introduced QR code way of travelling.
Here are a few tips on using QR paper tickets:
- Get your QR-based paper ticket from the customer care counter or ticket vending machine at the station where your journey begins.
- The QR code is valid for 60 minutes only and will become invalid if not used by the time limit.
- The ticket can be used only from the station it is bought and is non-refundable.
- On reaching your destination, scan the QR code again at the exit.
Rules to follow while using QR-based Paper Ticket:
- A photograph of the QR code will be considered invalid- only the QR-based paper tickets given at the stations are valid. If you lose your ticket while travelling, you will be penalised as per the rules of DMRC.
- If one wishes to travel beyond the destination station as per the ticket, one has to pay extra fare and seek an exit ticket from the customer care operator.
- Also, if one has to exit before the destination station, one can avail an exit ticket from the customer care operator. They will retain the QR-based paper ticket and proceed with an exit ticket.
- Users can only enter from the station where the QR ticket has been issued and not from any other station.
At present, Airport Express Line is the only station with mobile-based QR tickets. The transporter will reportedly introduce mobile-based QR tickets at the other metro stations in Delhi by the end of May.
This news is a sigh of relief for commuters who have to stand in queues for hours to get their tickets.
Happy Travelling!
