Kochi: The Kochi-1 Smart Card, which will facilitate multi-model transport ticketing in the integrated Metro Rail network and feeder services, and the Kochi-1 Mobile App, which will be a complete journey planner for commuters, were launched here on Saturday. "The online registration for booking the Smart Card started today. Also by noon, the Mobile App was available for downloading from the Google Playstore. However, RFID tickets can be bought from any station counters from Monday onwards when it will be opened for public," a metro spokesperson said.
While Union I&B Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu launched the Smart Card, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan unveiled the mobile application during the grand function held at the JN Stadium. Kochi-1 Card is a multi-purpose pre-paid contact-less RuPay card can be used to travel in the Metro. It also acts as a normal debit card. Kochi will be the first in the country to have a modern open-loop Smart Card, which can be used with other modes of transport like buses, taxies and autos as well.
The Kochi-1 Mobile app has been developed with a long term vision. The mobile App has an Electronic-wallet integrated to it, which is linked to the Kochi-1 Card. Initially, it will enable citizens to avail of metro services. In future, it will fulfill all their travel related requirements, regular payment needs and provide city and tourist information. Meanwhile, the commuters can get benefit of the advanced technology of ticketing in Kochi Metro compared to Delhi Metro.
"Here there is no token as in Delhi Metro and instead the ticketing system uses a combination of Open Loop Smart Cards, Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID) and Quick ResponseCodes (QR Codes) to collect fares from the users minimising the need for cash transactions. This is the first time such an innovative model is being implemented in the country. We'll now implement the system in Amritsar BRTS by November," said Ravi B Goyal, Chairman & Managing Director, AGS Transact Technologies Limited which is responsible for end-to-end management of Automatic Fare Collection (AFC) system for Kochi Metro.
