3 Bidders for Navi Mumbai Metro’s QR & Smart Card AFC Upgrade

Three firms have submitted bids to upgrade Navi Mumbai Metro‘s Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system to accept QR codes, smart cards and National Common Mobility Card (NCMC) after Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) opened technical bids on Tuesday.

Navi Mumbai Metro’s 11.1 km Line-1 connecting CBD Belapur Terminal – Pendhar via 11 stations was inaugurated barely 9 months ago in November 2023. Its CRRC trains runs from 6 am to 10 pm with a 15 minute headway. At each station’s concourse, users can only utilize the system by purchasing a RFID token.

Under MMRCL’s new plan which they launched right away in January 2024, users will be able to use the system using contactless smart cards (Type A), NCMC, paper QR ticket, mobile QR ticket, message based ticketing, web ticketing and NFC media. The contract to upgrade the AFC system comes with a 6 month deadline.

Bidders

• Aurionpro Solutions Ltd.
• Paycraft Solution Pvt. Ltd.
• Satyam Software Solutions Pvt. Ltd.

MMRCL’s Brief Scope: Name of the Work: Design, Manufacture, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) System for Upgradation/Replacement of existing Navi Mumbai Metro Line-1 Network including Back Office. (On behalf of CIDCO).

The bids have now been sent for technical evaluation which can take a couple months to complete. When completed, the financial bids of the technically qualified bidders will be opened to reveal who’s the lowest bidder and most likely contractor.

Here’s a more detailed scope from MMRCL’s tender documents:

Design, supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of AFC system by Re-Engineering/ up-gradation of the existing Stations AFC Automatic Gates (AG), Ticket Office Machine (TOMs)/ Excess Fare Office (EFOs), Station Computer (SC) and Central Computer (CC) including Hardware & Software to support Contactless Smart Cards (Type A) for certain time, all NCMC, Paper QR ticket, Mobile QR ticket, Message Based Ticketing, Web ticketing and NFC Media.

It also includes Design, Supply, Installation, Testing and Commissioning of Central Computer System (CCS), Acquirer Bank/FI for NMML-1. The proposed solution shall work seamlessly for distributing the passenger movement and day to day Data /Reports. Station wise list of equipment and available spares are given in Appendix -1. The delivery includes all the items, which have not been included in this list but are part of proposed solution and are required for implementation at all levels: Central level, Station or Equipment level.

The AFC System shall support a Fare Table of minimum 512 Stations and 64 fare zones. The Central system should be scalable and integrable for NMML-1 future extensions and other service providers as well as number of lines / stations / equipment and smart cards by addition of extra hardware. The system shall support interoperability with different operators as per interface requirements and NPCI and MoHUA guidelines for NCMC and QR ticketing respectively.

System shall meet existing NMML-1 business rules and shall be designed keeping in view of future Business Rules expansion/modification requirements. The Contractor shall follow the schedules of works and supply and shall complete the sections of the works by the key dates set out in the tender document. Complete interface of AFC equipment with Acquirer Bank/FI. Handle issuance of NCMC cards and Customer grievance redressal at NMML-01 stations.

Provision of Mobile and web application for NMML-01 that integrates with AFC system and includes the maintenance and support during the contract period. The Upgrade process shall not affect the existing revenue operations at any point/ location at any time. The contractor shall strictly adhere to this and shall coordinate with the Employer/Engineer/O&M Operator for the same.

Any Engineering work required to be carried out at the site (viz. laying the cable or any other activity), the contractor shall have the sole responsibility to restore the same as it is conditioned immediately to ensure the uninterrupted revenue services during this transition phase also.

The contractor shall develop the mobile application with the minimum features mentioned below:

• Issue/Cancel QR-Ticket
• Top-up of the Cards.
• Real-Time Train Time Table Information
• Feedback and Grievances/ Complaints.
• Integration with third party apps like PayTM, ONDC, Makemytrip etc.

The scope encompasses a comprehensive overhaul, encompassing the re-engineering/upgradation of existing station infrastructure, including Automatic Gates, Ticket Office Machines, and Station Computers. Moreover, the AFC system will facilitate seamless integration with Contactless Smart Cards, NCMC, QR ticketing, and mobile-based ticketing solutions.

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– TMRG