The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL) has closed ticket windows at a few stations on the Metro 2A (Andheri West-Anand Nagar) and Metro 7 (Gundavali-Dahisar East) corridors in an initiative to popularise digital ticketing as well as curb expenses. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) had dome this long back and introduced vending machines. Akurli, Poisar and Eksar, are some of the stations that have introduced digital ticketing as in these stations windows record less than 3,500 ticket sales in a day.
The new service allows passengers to purchase tickets directly through WhatsApp, eliminating the need for paper tickets. In the last 15 days since WhatsApp ticketing was introduced, the total number of commuters buying QR tickets from the windows has dropped from 56% to 48%.
QR tickets, however, still form the bulk of tickets bought, with payments by NCMC cards and mobile ticketing being another 44%. At the start of October, approximately 62% of daily commuters used paper QR tickets, 3% used mobile QR tickets and 35% NCMC cards. The total daily average commuters on this 20-km corridor spanning the two lines is around 2.70 lakh, with the highest footfall recorded being 2.92 lakh.
All theses are done to cut costs as a single ticket window needs to be manned by two to three staffers, each earning a salary of ₹30,000 to 40,000 per month. The daily average sale at the ticket windows which have been closed was just around 500 to 700 tickets. Besides, a single roll of paper, which issues 200 tickets, costs ₹70 to 80.
However, the authorities claim that apart from saving on money, doing away with paper will also help the environment. Additionally, the time taken to book a ticket will come down to a mere 120 seconds through WhatsApp ticketing.
WhatsApp ticketing on Metro 2A & 7 was launched on October 11. Commuters can send a ‘Hi’ to 8652635500 or scan the QR code available at stations to access the ticketing interface. The service aims to make travel more efficient and reduce queues at ticket counters.
