Easy access: Chennai Metro Rail officials say Singara Chennai Card sales have increased as MTC has also launched these cards in the first week of January. Commuters go in for these cards, which can be used for train and bus commute. | Photo Credit: B. Jothi Ramalingam
Nearly a decade ago, Chennai Metro Rail launched the contactless smartcards when its operations started. Subsequently, other types of tickets were rolled out. Yet, the smartcards were the most popular among commuters until December last year.
In January, Metro Rail recorded a sudden increase in the sale and use of National Common Mobility Cards (NCMCs) or Singara Chennai Cards as hundreds of commuters thronged the counters to buy them. Metro Rail uses both names for the card, with Metropolitan Transport Corporation bus services added in January.
Unique card
According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), the increase in the sales was due to the MTC too launching the Singara Chennai Cards in the first week of January. Commuters are going in for these cards, which can be used for train and bus commute.
In November and December last, 27.5 lakh commuters used the contactless smartcards. In same months, the number of commuters using the Singara Chennai Cards was 20.4 lakh and 22.03 lakh respectively. This pattern changed in January, when 23.7 lakh commuters used the smartcards and 25.3 lakh persons used the Singara Chennai Cards.
Nearly two years ago, Chennai Metro Rail launched the NCMCs first so that travellers could use just one card for commuting in both modes of transport. “When we introduced the cards, there were not many takers. Gradually, people started buying them. In 2024, we were selling about 650-750 Singara Chennai Cards a day. But, after MTC introduced these cards in its system too, around 1,800 cards are being sold every day for the last 20 days. This will increase even further in the coming weeks,” an official says.
R. Boopalan, who frequently commutes on Metro Rail and MTC buses, says it will be convenient for commuters to use one card for daily commute. “I travel from Wimco Nagar to Guindy by train. On days, when I head to Porur, I take a bus from the Guindy Metro Rail Station. Now, I just need to carry one card. The major convenience is that I don’t have to scramble for cash to buy an MTC ticket,” he adds.
Additional machines needed
With more commuters buying this card, CMRL needs to buy additional machines to accept the parking fee through the Singara Chennai Cards.
“At present, we have one or two machines for collecting the parking fee through the Singara Chennai Cards. A few passengers say they wait for a long time at some stations to pay the parking fee since there is only one machine. We will add 50 more machines across the network,” another official says.
On January 29, CMRL decided to stop the use of contactless smartcards from April this year. As a first step, CMRL has stopped accepting the smartcards and commuters should use the Singara Chennai Cards or QR Code tickets at New Washermanpet, Kaladipet, Tiruvottiyur Theradi, Tiruvottiyur, Nandanam, Little Mount, OTA-Nanganallur Road, Meenambakkam, Egmore, Kilpauk, and Shenoy Nagar. The footfall is lesser at these stations than the other stations.
The decision is significant because in the upcoming phase II, commuters can only use the National Common Mobility Card or the Singara Chennai Cards. “Technology has changed. When we launched the phase I services, the smartcards with closed loop technology were available. Now, the open loop card is the way forward. The aim is that one card should be available to commuters for shopping and travel in multiple public transport modes. This year-end, we are planning to operationalise the Poonamallee-Porur stretch of phase II and closed loop cards like the smartcards cannot be used there,” yet another official adds.
Immediate transfer
CMRL has asked the commuters to use up the balance amount in their smartcards as soon as possible. But some commuters do not know whether CMRL will allow them to transfer the balance amount in the smartcards to the Singara Chennai Cards. “If the balance is quite high, say, ₹500, they can continue using it until April. At that point, the balance will be transferred. At present, if the balance is negligible, say, below ₹50, it can be transferred immediately,” a Metro Rail staff member says.
Published – February 04, 2025 11:05 pm IST
