A cross-section of commuters travelling on the Chennai Metro Rail will now have to mandatorily pay ₹50 as a refundable deposit when they buy the ticket (travel card). Earlier, this refundable deposit was only ₹10.
For instance, if a commuter buys a ticket and the fare for his trip is ₹9, he/she will have to pay ₹59 (₹50 for refundable deposit and ₹9 for the fare.)
The fares for Chennai Metro Rail are priced between ₹10 and ₹70 but there is a 10% discount. A Chennai Metro Rail Limited official said, “Each card costs us around ₹60.”
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Three years ago, when Chennai Metro Rail began its first service between Koyambedu and Alandur, smart cards were available for ₹100 [including a refundable deposit of ₹50]. But when the underground service between Thirumangalam and Nehru Park started last year, the refundable deposit in card was reduced to ₹10. A source in CMRL said, “This [refundable deposit of ₹10] was an offer to attract more commuters. The offer cannot be a permanent one.”
Commuters seem unhappy with this move as they think it is unnecessary. Vishnu Prasad, a resident of Arumbakkam who travels by Chennai Metro, said “What is the point of such deposits? The fares of Chennai Metro itself are high and if they have a refundable deposit too, no one will opt for this system.”
Another commuter Dhanya Prithvi said it will not encourage more commuters to use the facility.
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“Only if a public transport is cheap, will more people use the system. They should get rid of this refundable deposit and reduce fares too,” she added.