Delhi Metro’s smart card could soon be linked to your biometrics, according to a report in the Economic Times. The technology that will make such smart cards possible is “ready,” however, the physical installation of these systems would take some time, the report said. This is being done so as to provide fare concessions to students and senior citizens, according to the report. There is no mention of how exactly this system will work in the report. Upon the implementation of this technology, the Delhi metro smart card will become non-transferable as it would be linked with the biometrics of a particular person, according to the report. Union Minister of Housing and Urban Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri had said, earlier this month, that DMRC was ready with a technology-based solution for providing fare concessions to students and senior citizens. What we don’t know: There is no clarity on the data collection practices as of now. How will Delhi Metro start collecting this data? We also don’t know anything about where this biometric data would be stored. We also don’t know as to who has build these systems. There is also no word on the expected implementation date of this system. We have reached out to DMRC for clarification on all these issues. Biometric authentication becoming pervasive: Biometric authentication is already being experimented with, at Delhi's international airport using a facial recognition system at all the checkpoints prior to boarding a flight. Bangalore's Kempegowda airport too has these systems in certain…
