Namma Metro smartcard validity extended to 10 years

The validity of the Namma Metro 'Varshik' smart card has been extended to 10 years.

In a release on Monday, Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) stated that as per the previous provision, the validity of the card was limited to one year from the last recharge. The rule has been removed for the convenience of the commuters.

Earlier, not using the card for one year required a reactivation at a cost of Rs 20. Since resuming operations from September 7, after a gap of more than 5 months, the corporation has been receiving complaints from commuters who could not recharge the card until reactivating it at the counter.

As transactions at counters have been limited as per the standard operating procedures, passengers had suffered inconvenience. With the 10 year validity, commuters do not need to pay reactivation charges, it said.

However, the recent rule that made use of metro card within 7 days after the top-up recharge will prevail. That means, the card will still be valid but the recharge amount will lapse if not used in 7 days.

Namma Metro trains have witnessed a steady rise in users since they resumed. Till September 11, operations were limited to peak hours: 8 to 11 am and 4.30 pm to 7.30 pm. Now, trains run from 7 am to 9 pm.