The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL) has initiated a shift towards digital ticketing by closing ticket windows at several stations on the Metro 2A (Andheri West-Anand Nagar) and Metro 7 (Gundavali-Dahisar East) corridors. This move aims to promote the use of digital tickets and reduce operational costs, following a similar strategy implemented by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) which introduced vending machines for ticket sales.
Stations such as Akurli, Poisar, and Eksar have transitioned to digital ticketing due to low demand at their windows, with fewer than 3,500 ticket sales recorded daily. The new system enables passengers to purchase tickets directly through WhatsApp, eliminating the need for paper tickets. Since the introduction of WhatsApp ticketing 15 days ago, the percentage of commuters buying QR tickets from ticket windows has decreased from 56% to 48%.
Currently, QR tickets represent the majority of ticket purchases, while payments via NCMC cards and mobile ticketing account for an additional 44%. At the beginning of October, 62% of daily commuters used paper QR tickets, 3% opted for mobile QR tickets, and 35% paid with NCMC cards. The combined average of daily commuters on these two corridors is around 270,000, with a peak of 292,000.
The decision to close ticket windows is largely driven by cost considerations, as each window requires two to three staff members, with monthly salaries ranging from ₹30,000 to ₹40,000. Ticket sales at these locations averaged only 500 to 700 tickets per day, while the cost of paper for issuing tickets adds to the expenses, with a single roll (issuing 200 tickets) costing between ₹70 to ₹80.
Authorities highlight that this transition not only reduces costs but also benefits the environment by minimizing paper usage. Moreover, the time to book a ticket through WhatsApp has been streamlined to approximately 120 seconds.
Launched on October 11, the WhatsApp ticketing service allows commuters to initiate purchases by sending a “Hi” to 8652635500 or scanning a QR code available at the stations. This initiative is designed to enhance travel efficiency and reduce queues at ticket counters.
