CM launches common Metro, bus ride cards

NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday launched the country’s only ‘common mobility card service’ for rides on public buses and the Metro, terming it a big step in the city’s transport sector.

Those travelling from Kashmere gate ISBT to the airport, Old Delhi Railway station to Kalkaji or Ambedkar Nagar, Mori gate to Mayur Vihar Phase-iii will be among the first who will get to use their Metro smart cards to pay for their bus journey.

The cards can be used on 200 DTC and 50 cluster buses plying on different routes, apart from Metro trains.the buses will ply on 20 routes. The buses of DTC’S Raj Ghat Depot-i and Rohini Depot-i and those of Cluster scheme’s Banda Bahadur Marg depot-ii will have the facility.

“The service is at present being run on a pilot basis. From April 1, it will be available on all Delhi government buses. It’s a big step in the transport sector that will facilitate the seamless travel of people in Delhi,” Kejriwal said after he took a short ride on a DTC bus. At present, Delhi has a total of 5,421 buses.

A passenger with a Metro card will just have to give it to the bus conductor. “The conductor will swipe the card on the Electronic Ticketing Machine. You’ll be given a paper ticket, which will have the serial number of your Metro card and the remaining balance in it. The entire process takes just two-three seconds and people won’t have to haggle for change,” said transport minister Kailash Gahlot.