In a first, Metro line 1 launches WhatsApp e-ticketing system

The city’s first Metro-Line 1-seems to be struggling to cut costs on paper sold as paper tickets. And so on April 14, they started an eticketing system on the Versova-AndheriGhatkopar corridor wherein passengers can use WhatsApp messages to generate e-ticket rather than carry physical paper tickets.

This green initiative will help save at least 228 trees every year plus the cost of printing paper tickets comes to around Rs 32.85 lakh per year. According to officials from Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL), they sell 1.25 lakh average number daily tickets, out of which, 80 per cent of them are paper tickets. The MMOPL officials said that passengers still prefer paper tickets over other options like card or mobile tickets.

Explaining the new form of ticketing, which according to R-Infra’s MMOPL, will be the first Mass Rapid Transit System in the world to offer e-ticket on WhatsApp. “This is an extension of Paper QR Ticket currently available at ticket counters. Going forward, we request our commuters to opt for e-Ticket which will be delivered on WhatsApp. This will help us eliminate paper tickets and promote digital ticketing,” said an official from MMOPL.

The e-ticket will be live for 20 minutes once bought and needs to be scanned at the departing station. After which the user will have to redo the entire process if there is a need to buy a ticket. Once the journey starts, it will be active for 75 minutes for the entire journey time. The return ticket will be active through the day.

This form of ticketing will be easily accessible, e-tickets will not be affected by any weather condition unlike paper tickets that tears or its ink gets wiped off if it gets wet, there is no fear of losing tickets and easy use at automatic gates. Moreover, the staff at the ticketing counter will be able to issue more tickets-currently they issue 6-6.5 tickets in a minute-that will improve to 12-13 tickets per minute as time taken to print the ticket gets eliminated.

An MMOPL spokesperson said, “Mumbai Metro One has a proud record of bringing out ticketing products that are world class and add to a positive commuter experience. We are happy to have launched e-Ticket which maximizes value for our commuters and enables them to enjoy seamless metro rides. We are confident that the commuters will find immense benefit in this product and go green.”

This will also have to save trees, claimed the MMOPL official. According to them, if they print 1.60 lakh tickets in a day, then it is equivalent to cutting one tree. At present, the MMOPL is selling 1.25 lakh tickets, out of which, close to 1 lakh paper tickets. According to officials, the rough calculations come to the saving of around 228 trees in a year.

This green initiative will help save at least 228 trees every year plus the cost of printing paper tickets which comes to around Rs 32.85 lakh per year