Starting today, passengers can now book their Kochi Metro tickets effortlessly through WhatsApp, simply by sending a message to KMRL’s dedicated WhatsApp number, according to officials.
HT reported, for those opting to go digital, a 10 percent discount awaits during regular hours, while a 50 percent discount is up for grabs during non-peak hours (5:45 am to 7 am and 10 pm to 11 pm), as stated in a recent KMRL announcement.
The initiative aims to boost digital ticketing, reduce paper usage, and eliminate the need to stand in long queues at ticket counters.
In an innovative move, KMRL, along with ticketing partner Axis Bank, is testing the use of Kochi-1 cards for commuting not only on Kochi Metro but also in buses, feeder buses, and feeder autorickshaws. This extends to the Water Metro service as well, as highlighted in the statement.
Looking ahead to 2024, the focus is on achieving an average ridership of one lakh per day on Kochi Metro, with plans to introduce interoperable tickets for both Metro and Water Metro.
Officials also promise the introduction of additional commuter-friendly schemes to further boost ridership.
Highlighting the achievements of the past year, KMRL showcased progress in various aspects such as revenue from fares and non-fare sources, along with an increase in ridership.
In 2023 alone, over 10 crore people traveled on the Kochi Metro, with 3.11 crore passengers recorded during that year. The metro service completed 86,845 trips, generating Rs 96.08 crore in fare box income.
The average monthly ridership in 2023 reached 25,97,423, and on 40 days last year, the per day ridership exceeded one lakh, showcasing the growing popularity of the Kochi Metro among commuters.
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