The Mumbai Metro One will be launching a cash back scheme for commuters using store value passes (SVP). The scheme will kick in on February 1, wherein commuters will be given cash back between 2% and 6% on recharges starting at a denomination of ₹200.
“Our objective is to attract more people to cards rather than tokens. It becomes easier for the commuters and increases our operational efficiency. It will also help reduce queues at ticket windows,” a Mumbai Metro One Private Limited (MMOPL) official said.
Card commuters take 40% lesser time to pass through automated fare collection gates as opposed to token users.
Officials said the SVP is emerging as the most popular product, registering a year-on-year growth of 51%. Around 1.6 lakh people of approximately 4.5 commuters, who use the service on weekday, use the SVP, while monthly trip pass (MTP) and mobile ticketing account for around 25% of the commuters.
MMOPL officials also said the MTP offers higher discounts. “But the SVP has a long validity and allows the user to make as many trips as the balance permits as opposed to the MTP, which provides a finite number of trips during a limited time frame,” an official said.
However, the Mumbai Metro One will be withdrawing per trip discount that is being offered to SVP holders at present and trips made with the SVP will be charged on par with tokens . SVP users are being given a discount of up to ₹5, depending on the length of the journey.
MMOPL officials said in the new system, commuters will be able to know the amount of cash back they are earning by travelling. They said it will reward commuters travelling the minimum distance, for which SVP holders at present do not get any benefit. The MMOPL will also be increasing the fare of the MTP between ₹25 and ₹50 across distances.
As an introductory offer, the MMOPL will be giving a flat 10% cash back on the SVP balance on January 31. Commuters will need to insert their cards into any ticket vending machine at the station within the next one month for the discount to be credited onto their cards.
