Metro Railway Kolkata to introduce UPI Payment-Based Ticketing System

Kolkata, India (Metro Rail Today): The longstanding issue of change shortages at Kolkata Metro counters may soon become a thing of the past as the metro authorities pave the way for a digital revolution with the introduction of the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Based Ticketing System. This innovative system promises to eliminate the need for commuters to tender exact change in currency notes and coins at Metro ticket counters, offering a seamless and convenient mode of payment.

Metro Railway, in collaboration with the State Bank of India and the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), is set to unveil the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) Based Ticketing System. P Uday Kumar Reddy, General Manager of Metro Railway, spearheaded the trial run of this system at Sealdah station of the East-West Metro on 7th May 2024, demonstrating its efficacy firsthand. The conceptualization of this system in Kolkata Metro was led by Shri Saumitra Biswas, Principal Chief Operations Manager of Metro Railway.

Upon successful completion of the trial phase, the UPI Payment-Based Ticketing System will be rolled out in the East-West Metro (Green Line). Commuters will simply need to specify their destination station and scan the QR Code displayed on the Dual Display Board at the ticket counters using their smartphones to make the payment. Subsequently, a QR Code-based paper ticket will be generated, allowing commuters to embark on their journey hassle-free. Furthermore, commuters will have the convenience of recharging their Smart Cards using this digital platform.

Following the implementation of this system in the Green Line, plans are underway to extend this facility to the Blue Line, Purple Line, and Orange Line, catering to the needs of commuters across various corridors. Metro Railway, in collaboration with its partners, is diligently working on the necessary arrangements to ensure a seamless transition to this modern ticketing system.

The trial run at Sealdah Metro station witnessed the presence of senior officers from Metro Railway, State Bank of India, and CRIS, underscoring the collective effort invested in revolutionizing the ticketing experience for Kolkata Metro commuters.