Delhi Govt launches contactless ticketing systems in city buses

New Delhi, India (Urban Transport News): The COVID-19 outbreak brought the concept of social distancing, and this rule also applies to the transport systems. Because of critical circumstances, social distancing and personal hygiene have become the necessity.

Under the light of this concept, the government of Delhi initiated an innovative step. It will start a contactless ticketing system on public buses Wednesday. With the help of researchers from IIIT- Delhi (Indraprastha Institute of Information Technology), a trial run of 31 cluster buses of one route was done.

To test the contactless ticketing, the project was taken to the ground on Wednesday. Furthermore, the trial was done on the 473CL route, which stretches between Anand Vihar ISBT and Badarpur and sees a high footfall per day.

After the success of this project, the government is planning to scale up this to a bigger level in the city. Therefore, after scaling up, commuters can pay using mobile apps by scanning QR codes pasted behind every seat and receive e-tickets, which will also have the expected time of arrival at their destination.

Although, this project was already on the list of the government, even before the pandemic. But situations in the pandemic made this project to implement on the ground.

“This will ensure social distancing between passengers and conductors. Exchange of cash… under the current arrangement often creates difficulty,” said Kailash Gahlot, Transport Minister of Delhi.

In the midst of the Coronavirus Crisis, Delhi came up with the innovative yet necessary solution in the present situation. By implementing this project on a bigger scale, Delhi will ensure social distancing and reduction in cash payments. Hence, making the travel convenient and safe.