Latest news with #NationalCommonMobilityCard
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Automotive
- The Hindu
Chennai: Longer waiting time to park or exit vehicles in Metro Rail stations
Parking vehicles in the morning or taking it out in the evening during peak hours, commuters endure a bit of a hassle in some of the Chennai Metro Rail stations. Chennai Metro Rail network sprawls to 54 km currently handles nearly 2.8 lakh passengers on an average every day. A significant number of commuters resort to driving to the stations by two-wheelers or four wheelers and then hop onto the train due to absence of last mile connectivity options. Recently, in a few stations including Koyambedu, Thirumangalam, Airport and Alandur, congestion near the parking was noticed and commuters had to wait in queue for a while entering or exiting the parking lot, thus causing inconvenience. Manoharan Nambiar, a resident of Thirumangalam said, 'The payment machine in the parking lot takes a while to read the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) for some commuters. As a result, there is bunching of vehicles which are either waiting to enter the station or exit in the evening during the peak hours. I have got caught in the queue on quite a few occasions and have had to wait to exit the Thirumangalam Metro Rail station parking lot in the evening. I hope the authorities provide additional machines to ease congestion.' Also, for some of the commuters, when they exit, the time of entry doesn't reflect in the payment machine. For a few, though they have exited, the machine indicates that the vehicle still lies within the parking lot. According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), the issue has been occurring recently, and they have already taken steps to resolve it. 'The payment device has a sim card with which there are data synchronisation issues. We have already raised with SBI and Airtel and it will be sorted out within a few days,' an official said. Sources said, there is dearth of manpower to oversee the parking related issues and that CMRL should hire additional staff. This will help in addressing the issue quickly.
Time of India
23-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
MSRTC losses over 10,000cr, up 124% in 5 yrs, shows white paper
Mumbai: The accumulated losses for the state bus corporation surpassed the Rs 10,000 crore mark, revealed Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) chairman Pratap Sarnaik in the financial white paper released for the bus corporation on Monday. The accumulated losses rose by 124% over five years. Sarnaik announced to the media that he will transform the loss-making corporation into a profitable entity within four years. According to the white paper document, the corporation made a profit in only 8 of the last 45 fiscal years, with consistent losses in the remaining years. The document emphasised upcoming policy decisions, cost-cutting plans, and strategies to increase revenue and improve passenger services. According to the white paper, MSRTC plans to add 5,000 new buses annually to its fleet to boost revenue. This includes leasing high-quality Volvo buses. "Fuel pumps for private vehicles will be set up on MSRTC-owned land, with revenue-sharing agreements with fuel suppliers. Additionally, MSRTC properties will be developed under BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) or PPP (Public-Private Partnership) models," it stated. "To reduce costs, there is a plan to include 5,000 LNG and 1,000 CNG buses in the fleet, and introduce 5,300 electric buses to improve passenger safety and amenities," said Sarnaik. The NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) scheme will be implemented for concessional passengers, the white paper mentioned. "Digital ticketing machines with conductors and On-Board Readers (OBR) will be increased in buses, while CCTV systems will be installed for passenger safety," it stated. Sarnaik further said that there were plans to offer fare concessions for long-distance passengers and welfare schemes for employees. The organisation, serving as Maharashtra's primary public transport provider, facilitates daily travel for nearly 58 lakh passengers. The accumulated losses escalated from Rs 4,600 crore in 2018-19 to Rs 10,322 crore, attributed to Covid-19 lockdown and prolonged employee strikes.
Time of India
21-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Cidco launches QR ticket system for Metro 1
Navi Mumbai: The City and Industrial Development Corporation (CIDCO) launched a paper QR ticket system on Navi Mumbai Metro Line 1, which runs along the 11 km span between Taloja and Belapur recently. This marks a crucial advancement towards a Common Mobility Solution. The implementation required an upgrade of the entire Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) ticketing infrastructure to accommodate the new system. Commuters said that it's a welcome move, but of late. The system's launch took place at Belapur Metro station. CIDCO plans to introduce additional features shortly to improve the travel experience. These include a Mobile Ticketing App for ticket purchases, WhatsApp-Based Ticketing for direct ticket buying through the platform, and the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) to enable unified payments across various transport networks. According to CIDCO officials, these services will be accessible to passengers shortly. The development and installation of the QR-based ticketing system was executed by a private firm with oversight from CIDCO and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. A CIDCO spokesperson said that CIDCO maintains its dedication to delivering superior transport services to passengers. The QR-based ticketing implementation represents a substantial advancement towards this objective, said CIDCO.
Indian Express
19-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Delhi plans to set up Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority to boost last-mile connectivity
To rationalise traffic movement and improve last-mile connectivity, the Delhi Government is planning to set up a Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA). This authority will coordinate with various departments responsible for different modes of transport—such as the metro, buses, traffic management, and others—to ensure seamless integration and efficient urban mobility. UMTA will conduct surveys and make a unified plan to integrate all transport modes, so that if a commuter steps out of the Metro, the person can easily access a bus or an auto-rickshaw for last-mile connectivity without any hassle, said an officer. Setting up UMTA was one of the key poll promises of the BJP's manifesto in the run-up to the Delhi Assembly polls in February. According to officials, the transport department is working on an Urban Transport Policy under which a unified body and a task force would be set up to coordinate with the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), and other transportation-managing authorities. 'The transport department had already made a proposal to establish UMTA in April and sent it to the minister for approval. The minister has accorded his approval. However, the Finance and Planning Department asked for more details and clearance in the Cabinet note. The department is currently working on it. Once it is done, the proposal will be sent for comments again, and after that, it will be forwarded for Cabinet approval,' a senior official. 'Currently, Delhi is becoming a transportation hub with metro, bus, rapid rail, and feeder services. For instance, there are areas where buses don't go. In these areas, people rely on mini buses, Gramin Sevas, or e-rickshaws. But there is no coordination between departments, due to which several routes are heavily congested, especially the bus terminals and railway stations,' said an officer. During the previous government's tenure, a route rationalisation study was carried out in the Najafgarh area and outer Delhi parts to improve last-mile connectivity and to address transportation shortages. Under the new project, the government plans to conduct a comprehensive study of the entire city, including routes, vehicles, and modes of transport currently operating. Accordingly, a new rationalised and segregated plan will be developed for implementation, said an officer. Additionally, there are plans for the introduction of digital ticketing through the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) across all modes of transport, the officer stated. 'If all modes are streamlined, the commuting will improve and it will also push people towards using public transportation, which will eventually reduce congestion and curb pollution,' he added.
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Commuters can now access premium travel on Namo Bharat trains with just 20% extra fare
The passengers travelling on Namo Bharat trains can now experience premium facilities by paying just 20 per cent more than the standard fare, according to the latest fare revision announced by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC). The NCRTC said the premium coach fare has been brought down to 1.2 times than that of the standard coach. This means a standard ticket priced at Rs 100 can be upgraded to the premium coach for only Rs 20 more, it added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Chi phí cấy ghép răng là bao nhiêu vào năm 2025 (kiểm tra giá) Cấy ghép răng | Quảng cáo tìm kiếm Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The revised fare offers a comfortable and less crowded travel option along with access to the premium lounge at select stations. The NCRTC said the travel between New Ashok Nagar and Meerut South in a premium coach now costs Rs 180 compared to Rs 150 in a standard coach. Live Events A trip from Ghaziabad to Anand Vihar is now priced at Rs 50 in the premium coach, up from Rs 40 for the standard fare, it said. A similar fare adjustment has been applied to other routes along the corridor. This change, according to the NCRTC, has been well received by the commuters, with more passengers opting for the upgraded service. This move is part of a broader push to encourage the use of public transport by making premium travel more accessible. The NCRTC has also introduced a loyalty points program to further incentivise the passengers. Under this scheme, the commuters earn points every time they book a QR ticket through the Namo Bharat app or use the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC). Each point is worth 10 paise and once 300 points are accumulated, they can be redeemed for a free trip, the Corporation said. In addition to fare benefits, the NCRTC is offering improved parking facilities at all Namo Bharat stations. The commuters can now check real-time parking availability using the 'Namo Bharat Connect' mobile application, which helps reduce waiting time and eases last-mile planning, it added. The NCRTC said the premium coach upgrade particularly benefits the young professionals and students, who require a quieter and more stable environment during travel such as for attending online classes or meetings. In coordination with the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC), AC electric buses are currently plying on four routes connected to operational stations at New Ashok Nagar and Anand Vihar. E-rickshaws and other last-mile transport services like Rapido are also available at multiple stations in Uttar Pradesh's Ghaziabad, the NCRTC said. The operational stretch of Namo Bharat currently covers 55 km from New Ashok Nagar to Meerut South, with 11 stations. The trial runs are underway on other segments of the corridor, including between Sarai Kale Khan and New Ashok Nagar, and Meerut South to Modipuram.
