Metro to run from 7 am, lists solutions for contactless travel

After inspecting Saidapet and Alandur Metro stations here, he said the passengers could make use of the cashless transaction through the purchase of smart cards and QR based mobile ticketing considering the spread of the virus.

“Passengers will be able to book tickets and buy passes of their choice in the form of QR codes in the existing CMRL mobile app. This QR code generated will be scanned at the QR scanners fitted to a particular gate at every station to enter and exit, making the entire journey completely contactless,” CMRL said.

It added that passengers can purchase the smart cards and recharge at the ticket counters at the stations and also through web top-up or cashless methods. To avoid queuing in front of customer counters and ticket vending machines, it would introduce a new travel card reader machine at each station.

Sampath said the metro services will begin at 7 am as against the earlier announced operation timing of 8 am to 8 pm following an appeal from the passengers. The Metro would resume it service in the Washermenpet-Airport corridor on September 7 after its services were suspended on March 22. The service on Central-St Thomas Mount corridor will start only on September 9.

CMRL managing director Pradeep Yadav said that after competition of every trip, the trains would be disinfected to ensure safety of the passengers.

Yadav said that the metro rail phase I extension to Wimco Nagar would be completed soon. “We will operate train service between Washermenpet to Wimco Nagar by February next year,” he said.