Delhi Metro Exploring Biometric Technology To Provide Targeted Concessions To Students And Senior Citizens

Embracing technology to target benefits and to ensure no misuse of the facility, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is exploring the use of biometric-based ticketing system to provide fare concessions to students and senior citizens of Delhi, reports Financial Express.

The development comes as an outcome of a push by Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri who had pressed for use of a technology-based solution.

Once implemented, the smart card of the Delhi Metro will no longer remain a transferrable and shared commodity. Each card will be linked to the biometrics of an individual user. This would ensure that the fare concessions are being availed only by the ones who the benefits are announced and aimed for.

The movement towards providing targeted fare concessions comes after two back to back hike in passenger fees, one in 2017 and another in 2018. The move will provide much relief to senior citizens and the students of the capital city and nearby National Capital Region (NCR) which includes cities like Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida and Gurgaon.