Single smart card for commuters by 2016

By next year, citizens will be able to carry a single smart card for all modes of transport as against the different cards they have to currently carry. The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority (MMRDA) will invite tenders for appointment of consultants for the “Integrated Ticketing System” in Mumbai and Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).

“After this system is introduced, Metro, Monorail (including the upcoming phase-2), public bus transportation like that of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST), Thane Municipal Transportation (TMT), Navi Mumbai Municipal Transport (NMMT), and the suburban local train network will be included for now, and other modes of transport like taxi, auto-rickshaw and also for parking around the city will be included later,” said a MMRDA official.

Discussions were held earlier this month regarding the single ticket system under Unified Mumbai Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMMTA) and accordingly, a draft Request for Proposal (RPF) was prepared for the same.

“The objective of appointing consultants becomes essential as they will guide us in preparation of bid process management and also help us in finalising the architecture and specifications of technology to be used for the system. The consultants will be in a better position to help us in selecting vendors for the same. Consultants will also act as Project Management Consultants (PMC) for successful implementation of the project,” the MMRDA official added.

MMRDA will implement the scheme under UMMTA, which has approved the proposal. The cost of about Rs 5.45 crore too will be covered under the budget provision of UMMTA.

In October, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had said that public transport in Mumbai must be integrated. “We were waiting for the Centre to indicate about the same as they had introduced a similar project of National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) in April 2012, but as the scheme is still in model stage, it’s not possible to implement in any state and so, we came out with a project of our own,” said the MMRDA official.

London’s “Oyster card” which is a form of electronic ticketing and can be used for public transport, including underground Metro, buses, railway trains, trams, boats and also United Kingdom’s national rail services.