Common ticket for metro trains, buses: CMRL begins trial

TNN | Updated: Nov 25, 2017, 06:35 IST

CHENNAI: Hopping on and off from metro trains to Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses and vice versa will be hassle free soon as Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has commenced trials for using its smart cards in ticketing machines for MTC buses.

CMRL managing director Pankaj Kumar Bansal said they were closely working with MTC for introducing common ticketing.

"Trials are on," he said noting that smart cards of metro rail can be used in the handheld electronic ticketing machines of conductors. Of the 30 slots in the smart card, one slot would be earmarked for using in the electronic ticketing machines.

"The software will be made according to MTC ticket prices," he told on the sidelines of a talk on CMRL Project - 'A Remarkable Transformation of Transportation Landscape in Chennai' organised by the Chennai International Centre here on Friday.

On the second phase of the metro rail project, he said, the work pertaining to 50% of the total 107km is likely to start by the next financial year.

Refusing to reveal the stretch that would be covered in the first chunk of the phase two, Pankaj Kumar Bansal said, "We hope that we would be able to sign the agreement and by next financial year so that we would be able to start the procurement."

If every thing goes by this timeline, the second phase would be completed by 2025.

The second phase will include 20km stretch along Rajiv Gandhi Salai or Old Mahabalipuram Road from Tidel Park to Siruseri.

Madavaram will also be linked in this phase. The CMRL managing director also said that the study for Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP) of Chennai Metropolitan Area (CMA) for the mobility of people would be launched. Tenders would be floated soon, he added.