MMRDA plans integrated ticketing system for mono, metro systems

Mumbai: Mumbai commuters will soon have to their benefit a seamless travel system.

In a significant move to set an integrated ticketing system in motion, the Unified Mumbai Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMMTA) has been holding  discussions with civic bodies such as Kalyan Dombivali Municipal Transport (KDMT), Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT), Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) and mass transport agencies like BEST and the suburban railways of Western and Central Railways to have an integrated travel system across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.

All the civic bodies have shown keen interest in the concept of streamlining the mass transport services to facilitate an easy access to the commuters with the help of a single swipe card.

To begin with, the Mumbai Metropolitan Regionalo Development Authority (MMRDA), which is the technical secretariat to UMMTA, has initiated a dialogue with Cubic Transportation System, an international provider of  integrated ticketing services, to implement an integrated ticketing systems for the metro and mono rail, which will commence operations from this year.

MMRDA says players will be approached if required.

''Integrated ticketing system is a step in the right direction as they will not only strengthen the existing systems but will also go a long way in providing that much needed accessibility across transportation systems.'' said Mr. Ratnakar Gaikwad, Metropolitan Commissioner, MMRDA.

Integrated ticketing system once implemented will pave way for an effective transport network, where the same ticket can be used to commute in a bus or rail.

In the recent past BEST had introduced Go Mumbai smart card which had integrated with Central & Western Railways for the benefit of the commuters.