Now, seamless travel between Delhi Metro, DTC buses with common smart cards

The Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) successfully integrated its e-ticketing machines with the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) smart card on Thursday, paving the way for commuters to use the Metro card for travel on its buses.

With this integration, the Delhi government's goal of introducing a common mobility card looks set to take off by the end of the year, said an official. In April 2014, the Delhi government had approved a proposal to merge ticketing of DTC and DIMTS buses with the Metro's automated ticketing operations.

''The DTC is expecting to introduce the facility to commuters in two months, when it introduces e-ticketing machines in all buses. The cards will be swiped against the e-ticket machines,'' the official added.

On the integration, R S Minhas, deputy chief general manager (public relations), DTC, said, ''The DTC successfully carried out a real transaction from a DMRC card on a DTC electronic ticketing machine.'' The DTC has been in the process of converting its ticketing operations to a fully automated affair this year, with e-ticketing machines being introduced on around 70 per cent of its 4,500-strong bus fleet. The cash purchase of DTC tickets would, however, continue even after the integration.

A DTC official explained, ''The smart card can be used across Metro stations and buses with fares being deducted according to the charge of the DTC and the DMRC. Details of the transactions of all smart cards used across the city will go to a central clearing house by 11.59 pm each night automatically. The transactions of DMRC and DTC will be segregated and be sent to the respective accounts.''