All You Need To Know About The Kochi One Card For Metro
- 14 Jun 2017
- Sunaya
- Features
The card and the app to go along with it, to be rolled out from the day of inauguration
The Kochi Metro is all set to open its doors to the public on 17th June. While Prime minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Metro, Union Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu will release Kochi-1 cards for the public. The mobile application for the cards will be launched at the same venue by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
We were well aware of the facilities that go along with the Metro like the Kochi - 1 card that would make cashless travel possible for the passengers. KMRL bought with it a series of novelties through their policies and decisions like employing LGBT and a high number of women from the Kudumbasree, introducing bike-sharing for close commuters, and planning a ‘Snehayathra’ for special children and inmates of old age homes.
The Kochi - 1 cards they are planning to issue will prove to be an easy mode of payment for daily commuters. A pre-paid smart card which works much like a debit card. According to this The Hindu article, the cards can be used for cashless travel in trains and for day to day transactions as well. Elias George, Managing Director of Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL), was quoted saying that the app would be activated a few days after the launch in the article.
Here’s everything you’ll need to know about the card:
- The card can be purchased at Metro stations for INR 150.
- You have to provide your basic details and KYC (Know Your Customer) details for the purchase.
- The first top-up will be for INR 200.
- Subsequent top-ups can be done from 100 and upwards.
- You can do transactions of upto INR 10,000 per month, or upto INR 1 Lakh per month if the ID proof is submitted, with the card.
- Kiosks will be opened at select locations to popularise the card.
- The cards use chip-card technology.
- The cards are launched in association with Axis Bank. It is the first open loop card system based on Europay, MasterCard and Visa introduced in a metro system. Ernst & Young is the consultant on developing the smart card system for KMRL.
Non-frequent travellers can buy tickets at the station from counters which will be managed by Kudumbasree.
Text: Susmitha Suresh Photos: Various Sources Featured Image source
