‘Dream gates’ offer easier entry, exit

People can use mobile as smartcard

NEW DELHI 26/05/2017: DMRC employee with the QR code in her mobile phone at the newly installed QR reading gates at Lal Qila Metro Station of the heritage line during press preview,in New Delhi on Friday. Photo Sandeep Saxena

Though it may be known as the ‘Heritage Corridor’, the latest addition to the Delhi Metro is going to sport some hi-tech solutions and will allow commuters to experiment with entering or exiting a metro station just with their smartphones.

In what is being described as a first-of-its-kind facility, the DMRC has installed, what it calls, ‘Dream Gates’ where phones, instead of tokens or smart cards, can be used at the automatic fare collection gates.

On pilot basis

As a pilot project, two entry points at Lal Quila station and two exit points at Jama Masjid station have been equipped with the facility.

These gates have been installed alongside the usual gates at these stations.

During a special ride for media, a demo of the project was also provided.

“Commuters using e-wallets will be able to enter the Lal Quila station. Upon entering the journey details, the e-wallet will generate a QR code or a machine-readable code which the special entry gate will read and let the person walk in,” a metro official said.

However, in such an event, the exit has to be made through another ‘Dream Gate’ only.

So, those entering through either one of the two such gates at the Lal Quila station will have to make an exit through the Jama Masjid gates only.

However, the facility may not be available from Sunday itself as the new stations do not have cellular networks or Wi-Fi facilities at this point.