Bengaluru metro’s smart ticket machines go offline just months after launch

BMRCL’s new QR-based ticket vending machines, introduced to make ticketing faster and easier, have gone offline within two months of launch, leaving commuters back in queues.

Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited’s (BMRCL) much-publicised “smart ticketing” experiment has hit a roadblock. The new QR-code-based ticket vending machines, introduced just two months ago to ease crowding at ticket counters, have stopped working at several stations, leaving commuters frustrated.

The machines, resembling ATMs, were installed on a pilot basis at Swami Vivekananda and Benniganahalli Metro stations. They allowed passengers to scan QR codes using digital payment apps like PhonePe and Google Pay to get their journey tickets within seconds, eliminating the need to stand in long queues.

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The initiative was launched with the promise of issuing tickets in under 30 seconds. For a brief period, commuters appreciated the convenience and speed of the system. However, within a few weeks, most of these machines reportedly stopped functioning, and BMRCL switched them off, citing “technical issues.”

According to metro officials, the system was meant to make ticket purchase seamless, especially during rush hours. But due to recurring technical snags and poor response calibration, the machines were taken offline temporarily. Commuters now have to return to the traditional counters and recharge kiosks, leading to longer waiting times again.

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Passengers say the decision has caused inconvenience, especially at busy interchange stations where crowds are heavy during peak hours. While BMRCL has not issued an official statement on when the machines will be back in service, sources indicate the corporation is reviewing software glitches before expanding the system across the network.