The Kochi Metro Rail Limited has appointed Ernst & Young LLP as consultant for developing 'Common Smart Card Ticketing Solution' for Kochi Metro.
The firm is expected to deliver the detailed feasibility report within six months. Its responsibilities include preparation of policy for implementation of the Smart Card-based ticketing system, discussions with all the stakeholders for implementation of the system and implementation of the system.
Subsequently, a suitable institution would be identified by KMRL for implementation of “open loop, smart card” system. This is expected to be implemented by the time Kochi’s Metro system is commissioned in December 2015. Once this is rolled out, Kochi would be the first city in the country and may be one among the few cities in the world having an open loop card payment system that would enable multi-modal transport ticketing. Under this, commuters will be able to travel on various modes of transport using a single ticket, says a KMRL press release.
The development of a ‘Common Smart Card Ticketing Solution’ is a key component of the Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (UMTA) proposed for Kochi. As in the case of many leading transit organizations in the world, UMTA-Kochi is evaluating the adoption of open loop smart card system for fare collection. UMTA-Kochi envisages a common smart card for all payment applications, including transport, shopping and all other payment needs. Therefore, an EMV/Rupay based smart card has been identified as the form factor for the ticketing systems for all transport operators in greater Kochi area, thus fostering an interoperable multi-modal transit-ticketing ecosystem. These smart cards could be used on the networks/ticketing terminals as well, KMRL has informed.
