Recharge your metro smart card the mobile phone way

Now commuters of Delhi Metro Railway will not have to stand in long queues to recharge their smart cards as they will be able to recharge their smart card just like they recharge their mobile phone by visiting ICICI Bank Business Correspondent Network (Outlets), located across New Delhi and NCR region.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has launched top up (recharge) facility of Metro Smart Cards through approximately 800 such ICICI Bank Business Correspondent Network (Outlets), located across the national capital and NCR region.

"These outlets are not to be mistaken with ICICI bank branches. They are outlets which can be located at your neighbouring mobile recharge shop or some other store enabling you to add value to your card in a way mobile top ups are done," a Metro spokesman said.

A metro statement elaborated the process as part of which a customer will have to provide the Metro Smart Card Number (at the back panel of the card), the recharge amount in cash (minimum is Rs 100 and maximum Rs 3000 at present) and mobile number to the agent at the outlet.

But the only hurdle is that recharges done through this route will have to be validated by tapping the card in add value machines (AVM-white colour machine) installed near customer care centre of selected stations.

DMRC data says, about 70 per cent of metro commuters use smart cards presently while around 16,000 smart cards are sold every day from the various stations of the 190 km long network.