BMRCL selling travel cards before Metro service

BANGALORE: In a classic case of putting cart before the horse, the state-run

Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (BMRCL) Friday began selling

pre-paid travel cards for its much-awaited "Namma Metro" service slated

to commence later this month."We are selling travel cards of

different denomination ahead of commencing the service as we do not want

commuters to face inconvenience and delays in boarding the coaches due

to last-minute rush at ticket counters," BMRCL managing director N.

Sivasailam told reporters here.The corporation is waiting for

clearance certificate from the Railway Safety Commission, which is set

to inspect the 6.7-km first phase of the Metro (Reach-1) next week from

M.G. Road station to Baiyyapanahalli terminal in the eastern suburb of

this tech hub."The railway safety commissioner (D.K. Singh) will

inspect the Metro facility, stations, signalling system and commuter

facilities, including safety measures from September 6-10 to certify them for

operationalising the Metro service," Sivasailam said.Once the

clearance is given, Chief Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda will invite

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to dedicate the Metro service to the

nation on a date convenient to him."I will soon meet the prime

minister in New Delhi and personally request him to inaugurate the Metro

service on a date convenient to him, as it would be befitting to do so

since he (Singh) had laid the foundation stone for the project five

years ago (June 24, 2006) in the city," Gowda told reporters after

launching the sale of Metro travel cards at a function here.Gowda,

Transport Minister R. Ashoka and Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister

Suresh Kumar purchased the first three smart cards of Rs.100

denomination, which will entail them to commute in the air-conditioned

Metro coaches three times (to and fro) at a cost of Rs.15 per trip from

one end (M.G.Road) to other (Baiyyapanahalli).Inspecting the

project work August 30, though Gowda said he would invite the prime

minister to inaugurate the Metro service Sep 15 or 17, he admitted

Friday that the inaugural run may take place Sep 25 or later as per

Singh's convenience.The corporation is expecting about

25,000-30,000 people to commute daily on the route as the service is

expected to operate from 6 a.m. to midnight."The three coaches

can take a combined load of 750-800 people per trip which will be

operated at 8-10 minute frequency on both ways. With the duration of

each trip being 12 minutes, the trains will make five trips an hour and

108 trips a day," Sivasailam said.The corporation has also tied

up with mobile service operator Airtel to facilitate commuters to

re-charge their travel cards at any of its retail outlets. "The

travel card resembles a credit or debit card with an electronic chip

embedded inside. It can be used for performing multiple journeys and

loaded with various types of tickets. The commuter will have to tap the

card at the entry gate before boarding the train and also tap the card

at the destination. The cost of the travel will be deducted from the

card as per the distance traveled," Sivasailam added.