Pay even if you don’t board a metro train
Chennai: Commuters walking into a metro station will be forced to shell out minimum ticket fare of Rs 9 even if they don't take a ride, once they swipe their smart cards or tokens. The fee will be more if they end up spending more time on the platform and get out of the same station without boarding a train.
While commuters can hang around at the eateries, food stalls, ticket counters, baggage scanner and security checks without paying for a ticket, they will have to shell out money if they get anywhere beyond the security area.
Metro rail officials said anywhere beyond the automatic fare collection (AFC) gates, where tokens are inserted or smart cards are swiped, is considered a paid area.
Commuters with smart cards will be charged a minimum fare if they get anywhere beyond the security check and do not board a train. The more time they spend in the paid area without boarding a train, the more they might have to shell out when they get out of the station.
Central and Egmore stations have separate platform tickets, using which people can access any platform, including those for suburban trains. Metro stations do not have a platform ticket system.
Metro rail officials said the idea to have a non-paid and a paid area is to clear the passenger crowd and prevent them from spending more time on the platform.
"It is like how in a suburban station, you go to the platform after buying a ticket. Whether you board a train or not is not considered. In metro stations, the moment you step into the paid area, you are considered as a commuter ready to board a train. You will be charged the minimum fare if you enter the paid area with your smart card. If you spend more than an hour or so in the paid area without taking a ride, the more you will be charged," a metro rail official said.
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