Namma Metro’s Reach-1 will complete one year of operation in October and the 6.7 km-long stretch sees a passenger inflow of around 25,000 every day. The next big launch will be that of Reach-3 in a couple of months from now. This stretch will traverse though some of the bustling areas of Bengaluru and the passenger flow is expected to increase manifold. Namma Metro is also gearing up to introduce more people-friendly measures and passes for different groups.
Types of Metro travel cards/ token
Tokens
Tokens are used as single-journey tickets. These are captured by gates during exit and are suitable for casual travellers. These are used for multiple journeys. The maximum number of tokens which are to be issued by the ticket office operator to a single passenger at a time is six. A token of any type is valid for the day of purchase at the entry gate not more than 30 minutes from the time of sale. Token sale station should be same as entry station for the journey.
Namma Metro Travel Cards
Contactless smart cards are available for Rs 50. The travel value is different from the cost of the card. You need to buy the card only once and load either value or trips on the card as per your convenience. You can also get a benefit of discount from 15 per cent to 21 per cent over tokens. There are also a range of options to top up the card 24X7, apart from at the stations.
Combo Cards
A debit-cum-transit card, a single card with a contactless chip and a magstripe for ticketing and banking applications, respectively is issued by SBI. Other options for the combo cards are same as Namma Metro Travel Cards.
Stored Value Tickets (Varshik)
These are used for multiple journeys and the user can load an amount in multiples of Rs 50 up to a maximum of Rs 1,500 on the card. The stored value in the ticket is deducted to the extent of journey undertaken. Varshik fare is discounted by 15 per cent of the token fare. The currency value can be added to smart card at any of the ticket offices, ATMs, BMRCL website, SBI internet and mobile banking and through Airtel retail outlets. The top-up in case of stored value ticket is a minimum of Rs 50 and in multiples of Rs 50. Stored value ticket is valid for one year from the date of last top-up. In case journey is undertaken for distance for which balance amount is not available, the card can be topped up at Customer Care to enable exit from gates.
Trip Ticket (Sanchar)
This can be used for multiple journeys and is specially meant for regular commuters between two fixed stations. A single journey from one station to the destination station is a ‘trip’. A bundle of trips can be loaded on to the card for travel within a fare zone. Sanchar fare is discounted up to 10 per cent of the Varshik fare. Sanchar ticket can also be loaded along with Varshik ticket and in such cases, fare charged during travel will be the lower of the two.
Multiple tickets in a card
BMRCL is planning to come out with an option where different tickets can be accommodated on a card.
Group ticket
This is a paper ticket issued at TOM for a ‘group’ of persons (group is defined as a set of persons with a minimum of 25 passengers intending to travel together between the same set of stations). Passengers in the group will be allowed to enter the paid area through ‘hinged gate’ after manual verification. The group ticket is a single journey ticket and will be collected at the exit station.