In order to make travel more convenient for smart card carrying passengers, Delhi Metro has decided to convert 50 per cent of the existing Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) exit gates to 'card-only' exit gates. Smart-card carrying passengers comprise about 70 per cent of the daily Metro passengers.
“At present, Delhi Metro has 1073 AFC exit gates across all metro stations of the network. Of these, 500 exit gates are being converted exclusively for the smart card users to be known as 'card-only' AFC exit gates. The move is aimed at facilitating a smooth exit from the dedicated gates at a faster pace,” Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said in a statement.
The remaining gates will remain functional for both the smart-card and token carrying passengers.
Metro officials added that the dedicated card-only gates will also help token users as shifting of card users to their dedicated exit gates would allow token users more space and time to exit from remaining gates.
“Token handling at times by relatively new passengers leads to some minor error/delay in exit but this new arrangement would pave the way for a smooth exit for both types of commuters - card as well as token users avoiding unnecessary delay/hassle in exit,” DMRC said.
At present, 300 AFC Gates have already been converted into card-only gates at metro stations across all lines. Rest of the stations will be covered by the end of this month, officials said.
“Adequate signages are being placed at these gates to inform and facilitate the passengers,” the official
added.
Presently, Delhi Metro has 213 km of operational network with 160 stations which carries around 26 lakh commuters everyday across Delhi and NCR. Of these, around 18 lakh commuters use Metro smart card every day.