The Kochi metro, which is the second most popular mass transit system after the Chennai metro, has joined the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) network. Thus, commuters may use the Yatri, Paytm, Rapido, redBus, and PhonePe apps, among others, to get a single or return ride in the Kochi metro.
A function held on Thursday to mark the metro's joining the ONDC network featured stakeholders stating that efforts are also underway to allow commuters to purchase tickets via Google Maps, Uber, and EaseMyTrip, among other sources.
Adding Kochi metro to the network is a big step in the direction of building an all-digital multimodal transit system. They said, "As a result, commuters can experience a smooth travel by combining multiple modes of transportation, such as first mile (autorickshaw), middle mile (metro rail), and last mile (auto again). All of these are accessible through the network."
By facilitating metros to become sellers and give their ticket inventory to buyer applications, ONDC Network accelerates digitization. In addition to helping commuters, this simplified procedure opens the door for future innovations, such the incorporation of supplementary services like on-the-go grocery, food, and other need purchases that are timed to coincide with the commuter's itinerary.
The Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), a division of the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, launched the ONDC in 2021. The ONDC is a set of standards intended to promote open, unbundled, and interoperable open networks rather than an application, platform, intermediate, or software.
