Purple And Orange Lines Of Kolkata Metro To Launch ‘No Booking Counter Stations’ From August 1; Full Details Inside

Beginning August 1, 2024, booking counters at these stations will be discontinued.

Written by: Tahir Qureshi Edited by: Tahir Qureshi

Published: July 30, 2024, 3:37 PM IST

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New Delhi: Starting August 1, 2024, the Kolkata Metro will launch a new pilot project “No Booking Counter Stations” on the Purple and Orange lines. This was announced by the Chief Public Relations Officer of Metro Railway Kausik Mitra. The No Booking Counter Stations project is aimed at modernizing train operations at stations with relatively low passenger traffic.

The pilot project will cover three stations in its initial phase. These three stations are Taratala and Sakherbazar on the Purple Line, and Kavi Sukanta on the Orange Line.

Stations Covered

According to Metro sources, Taratala station has an average daily passenger footfall of only 70 while Kavi Sukanta is used by about 220 passengers daily. Sakherbazar station is used by about 55 passengers daily. It is due to this low turnout of passengers that the decision to delegate these stations as “No Booking Counter Stations”.

Automated Ticketing

Beginning August 1, 2024, booking counters at these stations will be discontinued for token issuance, new Smart Card purchases, and Smart Card recharges. Passengers will instead utilize Automatic Smart Card Recharge Machines (ASCRM) for these transactions.

Each station will host two ASCRM units, which are already in place. The machines will enable the acquisition of tokens, Smart Cards, and QR code-based tickets, with the added benefit of UPI payment methods for convenience.

Better Passenger Experience

The deployment of ASCRM machines is anticipated to improve the commuting experience by offering a user-friendly and efficient substitute for traditional booking counters. The Metro Railway Authorities are confident that this automated system will be favorably received and are hopeful about its future adoption by passengers.

The authorities will closely monitor the responses from passengers and gather feedback over the next six months. This period will be crucial for evaluating the effectiveness of the new system and making any necessary adjustments based on user experience.