Your phone may replace your metro card soon — DMRC is planning to introduce NFC payments at entry gates

• DMRC will soon install new AFC gates that will use NFC technology.
• The new gates will allow commuters to use their phones as smart cards.
• DMRC will install new AFC gates at 44 stations across its service route.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC) will soon have a contact payment system based on near-field communication (NFC) technology that will allow commuters to use their smartphones as metro smart cards.

According to HT, commuters will soon be able to pay for their trip by using their debit and credit cards, the NFC system, QR code-based ticketing on mobile phones and QR-based paper tickets, along with the existing smart cards.

Availability
The facility is currently available on the Airport Express line connecting New Delhi Railway Station to Indira Gandhi International Airport up to Dwarka Sec-21. It will soon be available on 44 stations with the installation of automatic fare machines (AFC) systems during the fourth phase.

Apart from Delhi, this contactless payment facility is currently available in Nagpur and Kochi metros.

How will it work?
To enter through the AFC gates, commuters will have to bring their smartphones close to the gate. This will establish radio connectivity between the phone and the gate, allowing the passenger to enter the station.

The passengers will be allowed to use most bank cards for payments as it will be done through the RuPay portal.

As per reports, passengers will not need to visit the customer service in case of penalties and it could be deducted from their smartphone itself.

Other features
DMRC is also looking to integrate Point of Sale (POS) terminals with ticketing machines at Phase-I and Phase-II stations. This will allow commuters to recharge the smartphones from POS terminals.

Once the new AFC gates are installed, passengers will be able to use any of the following payments to access the Delhi Metro rail services — smart card, National common mobility card, mobile-based NFC, QR code on phone, and paper QR ticket.

As per DMRC, these facilities will encourage the digitisation of services and push for cashless and human error-free transactions alongside a reduction in the use of plastic.

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