Going digital: Delhi Metro launches cashless tokens

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) on Sunday launched the cashless token sale or smart card recharge facility by using the Bharat Quick Response (QR) Code displayed at the token counters and customer care centres of metro stations.

This facility was launched by DMRC's Managing Director Dr Mangu Singh at Rajiv Chowk Metro station.

With this facility, the commuters will now be able to use the Bharat QR Code, which is being provided by HDFC Bank, displayed at the token counters or customer care centres through their respective bank's application installed in their smartphones.

All bank wallet and savings account holders can make payments using Bharat QR by logging into their bank's application and scanning the QR code available at the stations.

Currently, this facility is made available at five metro stations namely, Rajiv Chowk, Rajendra Place, Seelampur, Pitampura and Nehru Place only.

Subsequently, the facility will be introduced in a phased manner at all metro stations of the Delhi Metro network.

"The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation is making all efforts to push the cashless mode of a transaction initiated by the Government of India.

"This new cashless facility is expected to provide the commuters a more convenient and fast access to the Delhi Metro network besides helping in managing the problem of change/coins at the stations," said Dr Mangu Singh. The Bharat QR Code was recently launched by the Union Government in a bid to promote cashless transactions and this code works with all major banks in India.

It is a form of a bar code that uses the bank's information (merchant name and account number) required for the payment.

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in its bid to promote cashless transactions had taken many initiatives in recent months.

Last month, the smart card recharge or token sale facility at the token vending machines through credit or debit cards was also introduced at the Lal Quila Metro Station.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation had earlier also introduced the facility to recharge Delhi Metro smart cards by e-wallet applications.

The process for using the Bharat QR code by the Delhi Metro commuters is by logging into their bank app and select top pay using the QR code option.

Then they need to scan the QR code displayed at token counter or customer care at the station to get the merchant details and enter the amount and confirm, authenticate the payment by using the PIN/ OTP details.

However, for the first time users, consumers need to grant the application to have an access to the camera present on their mobile phones.