Need metro smart card? Visit nextdoor grocer in Chennai

CHENNAI: Soon, you can buy a metro rail smart card for Rs 150 in your neighbourhood grocery store or petty shop before you walk into a station to board a train, as Chennai Metro Rail Limited has started assigning authorised agents to sell these cards.
The move will prevent commuters from waiting in long queues at metro stations to buy the smart cards. Commuters, however, can recharge these cards for subsequent travels only at metro stations.
“We introduced this facility because many commuters don’t want to wait in queues at the ticket counter to buy these cards. It’ll also encourage more people to buy smart cards if they are available in a store or anywhere in their neighbourhood,” a metro rail official said.
A passenger can buy a smart card from any agent authorised by CMRL for Rs 150 and can travel for ₹100 with it before he/she recharges it for further commute. Officials said while commuters will get a 20% discount on their tickets with a smart card, an authorised agent will get a 5% commission for sale of a card.
On Thursday, the first set of metro train travel cards were given to R Premnath, an authorised agent, by Pradeep Yadav, managing director, CMRL.
Officials said those who want to enroll as agents will have to fill a form available in metro stations and provide PAN, GST and bank account numbers. Upon scrutinizing, the agents are issued an authorisation letter along with promotional materials which will have details about the smart card and discounts available for commuters.
“We are inviting people to enroll themselves as authorised agents. We are also approaching shopkeepers and others on our own and requesting them to become our agents,” an official said. In a release, CMRL said those willing to become an agent can contact CMRL helpline 18604251515, email at customercare@cmrl.in or call 9445196185.