One smart card for all modes of transport

  The Rs 200-crore contract for the Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system for the metro railway here has been awarded to Samsung Data Systems.

The contract worth about Rs 200 crore for the state of art ticketing system has features like smart card-based ticketing system, automatic gates, passenger operated ticket vending machine and the card could be used for other modes of transport as well, Chief Executive and Managing Director of L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) V B Gadgil said..
This technology will bring a true international experience for the Hyderabadis. We have chosen Samsung Data Systems, a subsidiary of Samsung SDS, Korea, based on their technical expertise, international presence and for their experience of implementing AFC projects in the Indian environment, he said.
With the award of the AFC system, all contracts in the railway system have been closed, he said. Managing Director of Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited, NVS Reddy said that it is a very futuristic system and Hyderabad would be the first city in the country to have a common ticketing system for all modes of transport with a single smart card.
He said that out of the total project cost of Rs 14,132 crore, Rs 1,458 crore would be given by the Centre by way of viability gap funding while Rs 12,674 crore was being raised by L & T Metro on its own.
The Andhra Pradesh government is spending Rs 2,000 crore for land acquisition and shifting of utilities (which is not part of the project cost), he said, adding efforts were on to get more funds from the Centre under different schemes, he said.
Replying to a query, Gadgil said the debt draw down has started and the first tranche of about Rs 500 crore has been drawn so far. The first phase of the metro is expected to become operational in 2014/15 while the entire project is to be commissioned by 2017.
PTI