As on 7 p.m. on Monday, the day the commercial operations of the Kochi metro began, a total of 62,320 people travelled in metro trains that operated in the 13-km Aluva-Palarivattom corridor, raking in ₹20.42 lakh for Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL).
The number of passengers is expected to cross the 70,000-mark since the six trains in operation which began operating at 6 a.m., will operate till 10 p.m. There was heavy rush of people at Palarivattom and Aluva terminal stations, while it was moderate in most other stations.
“The day’s earnings is more than the income earned by Chennai Metro on its first day of operation. I took a morning train ride and was happy to see the delight on the face of commuters. That made Monday one of the best days of my life,” said Elias George, managing director of the metro agency.
Around two dozen persons were fined for offences such as overstaying in stations (neither alighting from the station on time nor procuring a fresh ticket for onward journey). Based on CCTV footage, a few were fined for littering the premises, said KMRL sources.
The metro agency also began issuing pre-paid smart cards named Kochi-1 for cashless travel, from its Pulinchodu and Ambattukavu stations. A total of over 40 cards were issued.
Filling up the form takes time and hence commuters may fill it online through Axis Bank’s website at www.axisbank.com/kochi1. They must quote the number issued online to them and collect the card from station counters, they added.
The KMRL has tied up with United India Insurance Company for mega risk insurance cover for ₹2,527 crore to cover various risks in the Aluva-Palarivattom corridor, including commercial general liability and terrorism. The annual premium is ₹96 lakh, Mr. George said.
