Kochi: After withdrawing the Rs 1,000 prepaid cards, now the Kerala State Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has effected a cut in the number of other lower denomination cards. Currently, there is a shortage of ‘Silver Cards’ (Rs 1,500) in Ernakulam region. The smaller denomination cards like it, introduced in January, had become a hit among commuters. “Currently we don’t have any stock of Rs 1,500 travel cards in the entire Ernakulam region. We’ve informed the headquarters of the same,” a senior KSRTC official said.
Ernakulam depot has sold 34 of Rs 1,000, and 52 of Rs 1500 travel cards as against 17 of Rs 3,000, ever since their introduction. Interestingly, not even a single ‘premium card’ was sold off in the entire three-month period. Earlier, the KSRTC had withdrawn Rs 1,000 travel card citing unlimited travel offer adding to the losses of the state-run public transport provider. “The Rs 1,000 cardholder can have unlimited travel for one month. Those daily travelling over 60 km daily stand to benefit as it exceeds the Rs 1,000 upon calculating the total distance they travel,” the official said.
The corporation rolled out the four types of prepaid cards on January 25 as a means to woo more commuters and avoid the “change issue”. It plans to introduce smart cards similar to that on metros which automatically deducts fares from their wallets. “When their wallets exhaust, commuters can approach conductors for recharge of the cards,” the official said.
