ONDC looks to woo Metro rail operators, enable end-to-end digital booking for all urban commute

Representational picture

A metro rail passenger in India may soon be able to purchase QR-code tickets, recharge their travel smart cards, and also book their last-mile commute through auto rickshaws or cabs --- all from a single app.

The government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is partnering with Metro rail operators in cities like Chennai, Bengaluru and Kochi to facilitate seamless end-to-end digital ticketing. ONDC is likely to announce the partnership with Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) on February 2.

Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) recently floated a tender to integrate QR code mobile ticketing and card recharge with ONDC and the Bharat Bill Payment System (BBPS) platform.

The goal is that a commuter will be able to use one ONDC-integrated app for all of their urban mobility needs, say people aware of the developments. Of course, as more mobility apps integrate with ONDC, commuters would be able to choose from an array of interoperable apps for this purpose.

According to a source, ONDC has been in discussions with nearly all Metro operators in the country for integration. Further, Chennai Metro is expected to be available on ONDC from February 2, and Kochi Metro within the next month. "ONDC recently had a meeting with the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade and the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs. Metro operators were informed about the integration process and how interoperability would benefit them," said a source.

End-to-end digital journey

With auto-rickshaw aggregators like Namma Yatri already on ONDC, passengers will be able to check Metro timings, locate the nearest station, book a ticket, and also have last-mile connectivity through auto rickshaws.

ONDC has recently partnered with Google Maps and Namma Yatri. It is now planning to extend services to other modes like local trains, cabs, and flights.

Also read: Google Maps makes it easier for Indian users to understand unfamiliar addresses

Namma Yatri has been launched in Bengaluru, Mysuru, Tumakuru, Kochi, Delhi, and Chennai. In Kolkata, it was introduced as Yatri Saathi. In Hyderabad, another firm called Yaary, backed by ONDC and founded by former fintech professionals, is providing auto-rickshaw services.

Multiple apps in Bengaluru Metro

BMRCL Chief Public Relations Officer BL Yashwanth Chavan told Moneycontrol that the system would be launched within six months. "It is similar to popular bill payments such as electricity and water bills. One biller unit will integrate with BMRCL, and multiple customer apps can issue or recharge," he said.

"BMRCL is issuing QR tickets and recharging smart cards through a few select mobile apps through the tender route. BMRCL has received multiple requests from various popular apps and startups to allow the issuance of QR tickets through their platforms," Chavan said.

"The integration involves combining BMRCL QR ticketing and smart card recharges with BBPS and ONDC platforms, enabling any customer app to issue or recharge. BBPS and ONDC integration allows wider app participation and offers passengers a greater choice of apps for purchasing QR tickets and recharging smart cards," he explained.

BMRCL's QR code ticketing allows passengers to obtain single-trip tickets through WhatsApp, the Namma Metro mobile app, Paytm, and Amazon.

BMRCL records show a consistent rise in QR code users, increasing from 2.13 lakh at its launch in November 2022 to 5 lakh in January 2023, 10 lakh in June 2023, and 25.9 lakh in December 2023. While Namma Metro's daily ridership is around 7 lakh, the majority of passengers still use closed-loop smart cards introduced by BMRCL in 2011.

According to the latest numbers from BMRCL, 51 percent of daily passengers use smart cards, followed by tokens (34 percent) and QR codes (15 percent). For smart-card recharging, most users rely on ticket counters at stations (71.6 percent), followed by the Namma Metro app (13.28 percent), Paytm (8 percent), WhatsApp (3.25 percent), Amazon (2.23 percent), and the BMRCL website (1.6 percent).

Also read: Bengaluru's QR code metro ticketing system surpasses 25 lakh monthly users within a year of launch