Dual purpose transit cards for Metro rides

 The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has tied up with Federal Bank to offer Namma Metro passengers a flash combo card which will enable them to shop and travel using the same card.

The Federal Bank Transit-cum-Debit Card will offer discounts ranging from 15 per cent to 21 per cent on fares, making the journey cheaper for those travelling daily.

A daily commuter can recharge for trips from a selected station to another station for up to 100 trips and can avail discounts up to 21 pc. Moreover travel becomes hassle free without the need to stand in a queue to buy tokens and worry about managing cash for getting a token, said Ashutosh Khajuria, president, Treasury of Federal Bank, who was present to launch the cards at a conference on Monday.

 Customers will be able to recharge their transit cards at the Bank’s ATM in select stations, through SMS, Federal Bank’s internet banking – FedNet and in Metro stations.
The flash cards will be available at all Metro stations throughout the Sampige Road to Peenya Industry stretch and all through the 1,135 branches of the Bank across the country.

 Anyone with a savings bank account or current account with Federal Bank can get the Namma Metro Transit-cum-Debit Card. The cards can be purchased from Metro stations and the same can be linked to a Federal Bank account on a later date as well.

‘Handy facility’

BMRCL MD Pradeep Singh Kharola who was present on the occasion said, “At times buying a token for travelling in Metro rail takes more time than the actual travel time and that is where such a facility comes in handy. We chose the Federal Bank through a proper tendering procedure and once the other reaches also open, we will partner with other banks and also make it more convenient to travel on Namma Metro.

The contract between BMRCL and Federal Bank is for a period of five years,” he said.
The bank will also put point of sale terminals to accept debit/credit card payments at all the ticket vending counters in the 13 stations of the Metro which stretches from Sampige Road to Nagasandra.

The Bank will also integrate their terminals with the Automatic Ticket Vending machines of BMRCL for accepting debit/credit cards.