Metro Card Shortage: Paper Tickets with QR Codes to Be Introduced

The shortage of single-journey cards for metro fares is causing inconvenience for passengers. Many stations are out of cards, forcing passengers to turn away, and the supply of permanent cards has been reduced. Currently, DMTCL has only 30,000 single-journey cards, far below the demand. Although 120,000 more cards are expected by the end of January, officials believe this will not fully resolve the issue. The shortage is also attributed to a lack of passenger awareness and malfunctioning cards. To address the crisis, DMTCL is taking steps to quickly procure new cards and introduce a QR code-based travel system, allowing passengers to travel by scanning paper tickets. Work has already begun to install machines at each station for this new system. DMTCL plans to continue offering plastic cards alongside paper tickets for single journeys. The paper ticket system is expected to be implemented within the next month and a half, which should significantly alleviate the crisis. This system, similar to those in other countries, is expected to be more convenient for travelers and will make it easier to meet card demand.