CHENNAI: The Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) on Thursday announced that commuters can use smart travel cards in the parking lots of the stations as well, which would help them save time.
Minister for Industries M C Sampath inaugurated the facility at Koyambedu Metro station. The pilot project of accepting payment through smart travel cards will be implemented in 11 metro stations – Egmore, Anna Nagar East, Tirumangalam, Koyambedu, Vadapalani, Alandur, Washermanpet, Mannady, High Court, Government Estate and LIC – in the initial phase and will be extended to all 32 stations later.
CMRL managing director Pankaj Kumar Bansal said efforts were under way to implement the project since 2015 and six months ago, New Delhi-based startup ApnaPay had offered to implement the facility after an extensive study.
Claiming that CMRL is the first in the country to implement this facility, Bansal said, “Even in Delhi Metro (commuters) cannot use smart cards for parking. We are the first to go cashless even for parking. Within seconds, things will get done. Commuters do not have to wait to pay cash and exit the facility.”
Commuters can swipe their smart travel cards on the point of sale (POS) terminals at the parking lots. CMRL officials said this is the first step towards its vision of making the smart travel cards sufficient for all payment needs of commuters, including retail purchase, and for other modes of travel as well. Echoing the view, minister Sampath said that he has been interacting with officials to study metro facilities across the world and introduce similar facilities at CMRL.
Earlier, Sampath inaugurated the 1.2 MW solar power plant at CMRL depot’s maintenance shed. With this, the total capacity of solar power plants in CMRL has risen to more than 5 MW. “By the end of 2019, we have planned to install up to 8MW solar panels. CMRL will be saving Rs 2.54 crore per year towards energy cost and carbon emission would be reduced up to 11,587 tonnes per year,” an official release said.
Minister for Industries M C Sampath inaugurated the facility at Koyambedu Metro station. The pilot project of accepting payment through smart travel cards will be implemented in 11 metro stations – Egmore, Anna Nagar East, Tirumangalam, Koyambedu, Vadapalani, Alandur, Washermanpet, Mannady, High Court, Government Estate and LIC – in the initial phase and will be extended to all 32 stations later.
CMRL managing director Pankaj Kumar Bansal said efforts were under way to implement the project since 2015 and six months ago, New Delhi-based startup ApnaPay had offered to implement the facility after an extensive study.
Claiming that CMRL is the first in the country to implement this facility, Bansal said, “Even in Delhi Metro (commuters) cannot use smart cards for parking. We are the first to go cashless even for parking. Within seconds, things will get done. Commuters do not have to wait to pay cash and exit the facility.”
Commuters can swipe their smart travel cards on the point of sale (POS) terminals at the parking lots. CMRL officials said this is the first step towards its vision of making the smart travel cards sufficient for all payment needs of commuters, including retail purchase, and for other modes of travel as well. Echoing the view, minister Sampath said that he has been interacting with officials to study metro facilities across the world and introduce similar facilities at CMRL.
Earlier, Sampath inaugurated the 1.2 MW solar power plant at CMRL depot’s maintenance shed. With this, the total capacity of solar power plants in CMRL has risen to more than 5 MW. “By the end of 2019, we have planned to install up to 8MW solar panels. CMRL will be saving Rs 2.54 crore per year towards energy cost and carbon emission would be reduced up to 11,587 tonnes per year,” an official release said.
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