One of the big reliefs for Bangalore commuters, authorities are preparing to implement a coherent smart card system that will cover city buses and metro service. The bold move is to expedite public transport usage as potential customers can use the same card for Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation buses and Namma Metro.
The new system is expected to be rolled out by June, and officials are preparing to distribute smart cards to the public. With the installation, the commuters will no longer require separate bus and metro service tickets/cards. Instead, a simple “rechargeable” smart card should be enough for transportation in either mode.
Namma Metro currently provides a multi-use smart card system where travellers can recharge their cards and enter (and use) the metro stations without hassle. Such a service, going through its planned implementation for BMTC buses, forms part of BMTC to consolidate public transport in a more seamless and user-friendly system.
Central to the rollout will be the use of newly developed Electronic Ticketing Machines (ETMs) for BMTC’s conductors. These upgraded machines make it simple for members of the public to swipe their cards during boarding, so conductors will be able to take payment, while customers are also able to pay with smart cards during the bus ride.
The ETMs are anticipated to be handed out to depots very soon and carry out the requisite training for conductors to effectively take control of the ETMs. The action is increasingly being viewed as part of the steps to stamp out ticketing fraud. In the past several years, such QR code-based ticket systems were misused and financially unprofitable.
But authorities think bringing ETMs together with a single smart card system that's so secure and transparent would minimise that kind of risk. Transport experts have been keen on taking it all on board, saying a centralised card system is an important stride toward revamping public transport in Bengaluru.
It is anticipated to decrease the boarding time, remove the inconvenience of ‘carrying’ one's change and incentivise more public transport travel rather than owning personal vehicles. For travelers it is a clear benefit--enhancing convenience, reducing travel time, and smoother transit experiences. People who take multiple modes of transport each day can really benefit from the card: as a result, they can switch between the metro rail and bus service.
At present, the authorities are sorting out card distribution and system integration. If planned properly, Bengaluru residents would soon have a smarter way of travelling around the city. This initiative is an important milestone in the road to Bengaluru’s future as a more connected urban hub- commuter-friendly hub- meeting international criteria of integrated public transit systems.
