BENGALURU: The recently-inaugurated Reach 3 and 3A of Namma Metro have surpassed BMRCL’s expectations with sales of 10,852 Contactless Smart Cards during the first month of its inauguration.
The 9.9 km stretch between Sampige Road and Peenya Industrial Area was inaugurated on March 1. BMRCL sources said that the sale of smart cards on these reaches is ten times more than Reach 1, which connects MG Road and Byappanahalli.
“Last month, we sold 10,852 smart cards on Reaches 3 and 3A in just 27 days after it was thrown open to public, while in Reach 1 we sold only 920 smart cards. In April, the sale has been consistent though not high, with 2,597 and 863 cards sold so far on Reach 3, 3A and Reach 1 respectively,” a BMRCL official said.
High cost of tickets had drawn flak from commuters and urban experts as many small-scale industries and factories are located around Peenya, and many felt that the high ticket fare would discourage people from using the Metro every day.
But despite all these worries, the sale of smart cards has been higher in Reach 3 and 3A, though Reach 1 is in the Central Business District, the official said.
“A lot of working professionals take the Metro from Sampige Road to Peenya depot. For those going to areas beyond Peenya, the Metro is very helpful as they don’t have to worry about getting stuck in the traffic jam near Yeshwantpur. It saves a lot of time for commuters during peak hours,” he said.
The official said the smart card is feasible for commuters who take the Metro every day. “Once a passenger buys the smart card for Rs 100, he or she can top it up between Rs 100 and Rs 1,000 according to their usage and convenience. This is very handy,” the official said.
Since its launch, the BMRCL has recorded 7.62 lakh ridership on Reach 3 and 3A. This month, it has earned Rs 6.8 lakh revenue through ticket sales and nearly Rs 30,000 through non-cash (sale of smart cards and others) sales.
The official added that the revenue was bound to increase with the inauguration of the next reach.
