02 Apr 2026

India: Delivering Seamless, Contactless Journeys Across Delhi Metro Through One of India’s Largest AFC Modernization Programs

Case Study 3 minute read

By modernizing fare collection across one of the world’s busiest metro networks, we’ve helped DMRC deliver faster, safer and more intuitive travel for millions of passengers. This project demonstrates how technology can strengthen public transport at a national scale and lay the foundation for future mobility innovations.

Pankaj Bathia

Managing Director, Hitachi Rail India

Challenge

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) operates one of the world’s largest and busiest urban rail networks, spanning more than 350 km with 269 stations across 10 lines As ridership grew rapidly, passengers expected safer, fully contactless travel. The quick rise of digital payments in India further increased the demand for cashless journeys. Persistent cash usage, peak‑hour queues and capacity constraints further highlighted the need for a more advanced AFC system.

At the same time, Delhi’s mobility landscape was evolving. DMRC needed a scalable digital solution capable of supporting rising ridership, enabling seamless multimodal ticketing, and aligning with emerging MobilityasaService (MaaS) principles.

To meet these challenges, DMRC partnered with Hitachi Rail under the DS24 project to upgrade AFC systems across the network and introduce a full suite of contactless options—including Mobile and Paper QR, Single Journey QR, MJQR (MultiJourney QR), and NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) openloop payments—laying the foundation for a modern, integrated mobility ecosystem.

Solution

Hitachi Rail delivered one of the largest AFC modernization programs in India, upgrading more than 7,000 next generation AFC equipment supplied by multiple Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across 269 stations to support smart, fully contactless ticketing. As a Green Field part of the project, a complete new AFC system was deployed for 44 new stations, supported by a modern, scalable central back office. Networkwide upgrades included device replacement, software updates and back office enhancements to ensure interoperability across all lines.

Throughout the rollout, daily metro operations continued uninterrupted. DMRC introduced major digital innovations—mobile and paper QR ticketing, NCMC open loop payments, digital transactions and real time analytics—enabling a smooth transition from tokens to a unified, future ready, multimodal mobility ecosystem for Delhi.

Impact

The DS24 project delivers significant improvements to the passenger experience across the Delhi Metro network. Upgraded AFC systems enable faster entry and exit, reducing queues and supporting a smooth, fully contactless journey. New ticketing options—such as Single‑Journey QR and MJQR (Multi‑Journey QR)—allow passengers to recharge digitally and travel more flexibly. Cashless smart machines provide quick, self‑service ticketing, while Z‑Type Automatic Gates increase throughput during peak hours. Accessibility has also improved through automatic swing barriers, offering barrier‑free movement for passengers with reduced mobility and groups.

Operationally, DS24 modernizes DMRC’s entire fare collection ecosystem. More than 7,000 upgraded devices improve system reliability, reduce downtime and lower maintenance costs. A unified back office enhances revenue accuracy, while QR and NCMC (National Common Mobility Card) payments reduce cash handling and streamline passenger flow.

Real‑time analytics support smarter planning, and the cloud‑ready, interoperable architecture positions DMRC for future innovations. The result is a safer, faster and more inclusive mobility experience for Delhi.