A three-member team from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has arrived in Bhopal to begin installation of the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system at Bhopal Metro stations, a key step towards introducing automated ticketing for passengers.

According to an official of the Madhya Pradesh Metro Rail Corporation (MPMRCL), who spoke on condition of anonymity, the DMRC team reached the state capital two days ago and has started installing the necessary software and advanced technical equipment required for the AFC system.

Confirming the development, S Krishna Chaitanya, Managing Director, MPMRCL, said the installation work is currently underway and is expected to be completed within six weeks. Once the process is completed, passengers will be able to access Bhopal Metro services through automatic ticketing instead of the existing manual system, he added.

Sources said a major firm has recently secured a Rs 1.50-billion contract from DMRC to install the AFC system for both the Bhopal and Indore Metro projects. In line with this, MPMRCL and DMRC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in late December for the implementation of the AFC system across the two metro networks.

At present, ticketing at Bhopal Metro stations is being handled manually. Earlier, the AFC contract for the Bhopal and Indore Metro projects had been awarded to Turkish firm Asis Guard during the initial stages of project development. However, the Madhya Pradesh government later cancelled the contract citing security concerns, leading to delays in the rollout of automated ticketing.

Meanwhile, Bhopal Metro continues to record low daily ridership. On January 17, only 394 passengers used the Metro service. The footfall stood at 502 on January 14 before dropping to 275 on January 15, highlighting the need for improved passenger convenience and system integration to boost usage.

News source: The Free Press Journal