Metro Railway Kolkata extended the card's validity period from the current one year to ten years on Wednesday in an effort to increase the use of smart cards.
The minimum issue price of the smart card has been lowered from Rs 150 to Rs 100, according to a Metro spokesperson, while the current refundable security deposit has been lowered from Rs 80 to Rs 50.
There will be a security deposit of Rs 50, plus a ride value of Rs 52, including a bonus of Rs 2.
A metro official spokesperson said to PTI, "While the validity of the smart cards will be for 10 years instead of the present one year, the validity of the existing valid cards will be extended further up to ten years at the time of recharge.
He also added, "The validity of the newly issued cards will be counted from the first swipe onwards at the gate, but not from the first date of issue," the spokesperson said, adding the five per cent bonus on recharge value will continue.
The new rules about Metro Smart Cards will be effective from September 25. The official spokesperson also said that over fifty thousand smart cards have already been sold this month. Following the implementation of such alluring modifications to business regulations, it is anticipated that an increasing number of commuters will wish to purchase Metro smart cards.
These smart cards will make everyone's Metro ride more comfortable because they let users skip the line at the reservation desks, especially on holidays and during peak hours.
Both the self-operating digital ticket vending machines and the booking counters will issue smart cards. Additionally, these can be refilled online, at booking offices, and from digital ticket vending machines.
Rules of smart card
According to Metro Railway Kolkata, here are several rules that need to be followed:
A passenger is allowed to enter through the entry gate only with a minimum balance of Rs 25/-(the maximum chargeable fare).
When a passenger tries to exit with a card without a proper recorded entry in it, the passenger is not deemed to be travelling without a ticket. Such a mismatch is penalized by deducting Rs 25/- from the smart card.
In case a patron does not flash their smart card at the exit and makes an improper exit, the card is locked.
The booking counter deducts the maximum chargeable fare of Rs 25/- from the smart card when the same is presented in the next visit and the card is unlocked.
Lost card is not replaced under any circumstances.
