The city of Delhi in India soon may launch a smart card-based automated fare-collection system for its public bus service, an official from the service operator, Delhi Transport Corp., tells PaymentsSource.
“Payment for fares could be made by placing the card at a contactless reader,” he adds. “We had run a pilot of the service on buses between Yamuna and Mudrika and received a tremendous positive feedback.”
According to the Delhi Transport official, the corporation introduced the service as a pilot in November and operated it for two months. “Passengers could buy the smart card for a bare minimum of 25 rupees (54 U.S. cents of 38 euro cents) on the bus and at bus stations,” he adds. “After the initial 25 rupees run out, the passenger can refill the card at the bus stations.”
If the corporation introduces the system for the whole city, smart cards and their top ups would both be available at all major bus stations, the official says.
According to Delhi Transport data, the corporation during the trial issued 560 smart cards, some of which at no cost.
