More than half of Metro commuters use smartcards

BENGALURU: Namma Metro commuters are going sensible. Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) statistics show aroun

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That extra Metro customers are hopping onto the smartcard bandwagon is indicative of Bengalureans’ willingness to embody era. Not solely does it facilitate swift commute but also eliminates the will for tokens, which are extra at risk of pilferage — BMRCL has incurred huge losses over the years due to token theft. Though the corporation’s technique of offering discounts to card customers turns out to have worked, it might take a look at emulating the Delhi Metro fashion of dedicated go out gates to minimise delays. The proposal on introducing a commonplace mobility card additionally needs to be fast-tracked to make sure ease of commute.

d 60% of the ones travelling on Purple Line (Byappanahalli-Mysuru Road) and 51% on Green Line (Nagasandra-Yelachenahalli) are using smartcards.
With BMRCL providing buyers a 15% cut price on fares, extra passengers now desire cards over tokens. While the choice of travellers using smartcards on Purple Line has higher from 15% in 2012 to 59% at this time, it has surged from 23% in 2015 to 51% for Green Line. Namma Metro sees a daily ridership of three.55 lakh passengers — 1.90 lakh on Purple Line and 1.65 lakh on Green Line.

BMRCL managing director Mahendra Jain said the choice of takers is expected to head up additional, particularly after the growth of the Metro network. “Compared to different cities, Bengaluru has extra Metro passengers who use smartcards,” he said, adding: “The facility entitles customers to a cut price and decreases paper paintings for our workforce. It is faster, transparent, extra efficient and not more liable to pilferage.”

Commuters say Metro cards facilitate a hassle-free journey. “It spares us the difficulty of standing in long queues for tokens. It will be extra beneficial if the same card can be used on Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) buses as smartly. The government should allow us to use smartcards in feeder buses a minimum of,” said Anil Kumar, a typical Metro consumer.

BMTC officers said they are open to integration, provided that BMRCL is willing to return on board. “We are in a position to accept Metro cards in our buses. We have communicated the same to BMTC however are pay attention from them,” said a senior BMTC official.

In the rustic’s capital, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has just lately converted round 50% of the prevailing Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) go out gates to ‘card-only’ go out gates to learn smartcard customers.

BMRCL workforce said regardless that maximum common travellers use smartcards, somewhat new passengers purchases tokens. They additionally admitted to several instances of teen errors and delays in go out, which lead to congestion. However, BMRCL officers said they don’t have plans of introducing separate go out gates for smartcard customers however will consider the idea after expansion of Phase 2.

Times View

That extra Metro customers are hopping onto the smartcard bandwagon is indicative of Bengalureans’ willingness to embody era. Not solely does it facilitate swift commute but also eliminates the will for tokens, which are extra at risk of pilferage — BMRCL has incurred huge losses over the years due to token theft. Though the corporation’s technique of offering discounts to card customers turns out to have worked, it might take a look at emulating the Delhi Metro fashion of dedicated go out gates to minimise delays. The proposal on introducing a commonplace mobility card additionally needs to be fast-tracked to make sure ease of commute.