If you are going for a ride or an shopping and want to safely keep your handbag or cameras for few hours at some place then Delhi Metro can do that now by renting digital lockers at 50 of its stations through a new mobile app launch.
Momentum 2.0 also allows commuters to do online purchasing from list e-commerce companies via ‘virtual stores’ locate at 20 metro stations, send a courier via a smart box (digi-locker) and buy QR code-based tickets.
Delhi Metro is the first mass rapid transit system in the country to introduce such facilities for commuters, as per officials.
The mobile application seeks to enhance experience of metro riders beyond travelling.
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) plans to expand the ‘virtual stores’ and ‘digi-lockers’ facilities to majority of its stations by June 2024.
Delhi Metro’s network span 393 kilometres with 288 stations, including the Noida-Greater Noida corridor and the Rapid Metro in Gurugram.
This app was formally launch by DMRC’s Managing Director, Vikas Kumar at the Shivaji Stadium metro station.
PTI in February 2022 had report on this project when it was in its infancy stage and the DMRC had hire a consulting firm to work on the plan.
Using ‘Momentum 2.0’, which can be download on both Android and iOS phones, a commuter can rent a ‘smart box’ (digi-locker) at any of the 50 stations on Lines 1-7 and the Airport Line.
These stations include :
- Rajiv Chowk,
- Millennium City Centre Gurugram,
- Dwarka Sector 10,
- Supreme Court,
- Pul Bangash,
- Netaji Subhash Place,
- Shaheed Sthal (New Bus Adda),
- Dilshad Garden,
- Noida City Centre,
- Anand Vihar,
- Tughlakabad,
- Sarita Vihar,
- Moolchand,
- IP Extension.
Anurag Bajpai, founder of AutoPe Payment Solution, Said :
“Using this app, a person can rent a locker at any of these stations, from a minimum of one hour and up to six hours. Penal amount will be charged if the time limit exceeds beyond the period for which the digi-locker has been rented,”.
The new app, a joint initiative of Delhi Metro and AutoPe Payment Solutions, seeks to provide seamless access to metro rides while making the commute time count.
These ‘smart boxes’ have install in a grid format and each station has a set of 83-90 digital lockers, with a console at the centre.
Anurag Bajpai, Said :
“For renting a digi-locker, a user will have to go to the interface of the app, which shows the option of ‘rent-a-locker’, and once it is pressed, it asks the user to select a metro station, date, time, and duration of renting in number of hours, and locker size – small (Rs. 20 per hour), medium (Rs. 30 per hour) or large (Rs. 40 per hour), and the available time slots,”.
After payment, a PIN number will be generate which will be display on the app interface, and which will be valid for both drop and pick-up of a package.
For dropping a package, a user will have to choose the ‘drop package’ tab from the home page of the console, and then after entering the authorised PIN, the digi-locker will open automatically, without any manual intervention, Anurag Bajpai said.
There is no physical lock or key in this system, it is all a digital platform-driven system, Anurag Bajpai said.
For making online purchase from a ‘virtual store’, a user needs to scan a QR code display on a wall of the set up at a metro station, and then it will ask for the station at which the delivery is to be made.
For using the courier service, a user can choose the service from the app, and mention the address where a courier needs to be sent and then choose the station where it is being deposited, Anurag Bajpai said.
The courier will then by pick by the partner courier agency, so a user won’t have to go to a post office or a courier agency, and the package will be deliver at its destination, Anurag Bajpai said.
Anurag Bajpai said :
“The future plan is to have a hyperlocal courier delivery, wherein a courier can be picked up by the recipient from a metro station only on the same day when it is delivered”.
The app also offers option to buy QR code-based tickets for all metro lines, including the Airport Line, eliminating the need of multiple apps in turn enhancing user experience, as per DMRC.
Delhi Metro smart card’s recharging as well as transaction details can also be seen in the app.
There is also an option for commuters to give standing instructions in the app for ‘auto top-up’ in case the balance falls below a minimum defined value, DMRC said.
Users will also be able to pay utility bills such as electricity bills, gas bills, mobile bills, DTH bills, FASTag payment, etc easily, DMRC said.
At a metro station, the app also provides station-related information with details of location of facilities, gates, lifts, escalators, platforms and first and last train timings.
As the time of arrival is based on the destination, a bike or cab can be made ready to receive a passenger at the exact time in the designated area, as per officials.
Food outlets or ATMs can also be locate with the app.
Also, it offers information on shops, outlets, kiosks, and ATMs available at metro stations, officials said.
