Testing Begins on Nagpur Metro’s Automatic Fare Collection System

Engineers from S.C. Soft PTE and Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation (MAHA-Metro) on Tuesday began testing an end to end automatic fare collection (AFC) system for Nagpur Metro’s 38.215 km Phase 1 network which will allow a smooth flow of users in and out of the system while gathering trip data on key parameters.

The entry/exit gates of Nagpur’s AFC system will accept mobile & paper QR tickets (similar to those in Kochi) and Maha-Card – the recently launched common mobility smart card for use across metro trains, feeder services, vehicle parking and Nagpur Municipal Corporations’s city buses. QR code tickets can be purchased in three types – single journey, return journey and group tickets, while special fare discounts are planned to be given to children, differently-abled and senior citizens.

Maha-Metro’s MD Brijesh Dixit with test gates during a demonstration – Photo Copyright: Maha Metro via TOI

Tablet to display test data (left) and AFC gates (right) – Photo Copyright: Maha Metro

AFC gates will first be installed at the Khapri, New Airport and Airport South stations which are located on the 4.5 km at-grade “priority section” of the 19.66 km Line-1 through which trains began testing in September.

The contract for its design-installation-commissioning was awarded on April 12, 2017 to a consortium of State Bank of India, S.C. Soft and Aurionpro Solutions. As per a video uploaded by S.C. Soft in October, the consortium will pitch in Rs. 180 crores towards the fare collection system’s hardware & software installation, and provide a Rs. 30 crore royalty fee to MAHA-Metro for operating & maintaining it for 10 years.

For more updates, check out the Nagpur section of The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG