Chennai Metro Rail Changes Slab Composition for Trip Passes to Add More Flexibility

Remember the Trip Passes introduced in August by the Chennai Metro Rail Ltd? Due to very few takers for them and low ridership on the currently operational 10 km line between Koyambedu and Alandur, the CMRL has now changed the number of trips within each bucket/slab to make them more lucrative for commuters who only need to use the line on weekdays for their commute. Please note that there is no change in fares in addition to the 20% discount that users already receive. All validity & refund rules have been left untouched.

An old image of a Chennai Metro train shot during trials – Photo Copyright: Indian Express

Here are both the old and new fare tables for comparison:

Old fare table for Trip Passes – Courtesy: CMRL

New fare table for Trip Passes – Courtesy: CMRL

As you can see, 10 trips instead of 12 trips in 7 days makes a LOT of sense for users who just need to use the metro for their daily commute to work or school etc. on weekdays. The next slab of 40 trips in 30 days is an extrapolation of it geared again towards the weekday commuters.  The last slab of 60 trips in 60 days is geared towards all other general riders who don’t have a fixed commute, but can choose to avail a 20% discount if they buy a trip pass and use it. Makes sense? It’s really flexible now!

All other rules have been left untouched, but here’s a recap of them:

These passes are valid from the date of 1st usage and expire based on different time slabs, so for instance you can choose to buy it on Sunday before the work week begins and then start using it from Monday.  A 7 day pass is now valid for 10 trips, the 30 day pass is now valid for 40 trips and the 60 day pass is valid for 60 trips.

Example of Benefit:
Through the 7 day pass, a user would have to pay Rs 320 for 10 trips between Alandur and Koyembedu. However, if the user was to buy a token for each ride every day, then he/she would have to pay Rs 40 for each trip bringing the total to Rs 400. By buying the pass, the user instantly saves Rs 80 which represents a 20% discount.

In order to get a pass, users will have to deposit a refundable amount of Rs 50. What’s good is that the unused component of the pass can be refunded upon surrendering the card ONLY within the period of validity. So for instance, if you haven’t used your 10 trips within 7 days, then on the 8th day you cannot ask for a refund. The refund request must be made within the validity period of the card you purchased.

Things to keep in mind for users:
– The card may only be used between two fixed stations. This helps if the metro line falls along the route of your commute between home and office.
– A ‘trip’ is defined as a single journey from one station to the other. It does not include the return journey.
– Users can bundle trips of 10, 40 or 60 on the card. It doesn’t necessarily have to include just one bundle of trips. For example, a user can load 10 trips twice or a combination of 10 & 40 trips and so forth.

For more updates on the Chennai Metro, check out the Chennai section of the The Metro Rail Guy!

– TMRG