Bored of purchasing the plain black tokens whenever you travel on Namma Metro? The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) has decided to break the monotony of your travel by introducing the single-journey tokens in a new avatar.

The redesign is also expected to attract promotions when the BMRCL decides to monetise tokens in the future.

The new tokens are made of clear plastic, with a picture of the metro train against a background of the Vidhana Soudha on one side. Kempegowda Tower in Lalbagh, which once marked the outer boundaries of the city, is depicted on the other side along with the words ‘Bengaluru Namma Metro’. 

“We introduced the new tokens to break the monotony. We can always keep changing the token design,” said Vasanth Rao, Chief Public Relations Officer, BMRCL.

The BMRCL also intends to monetise the tokens in the future and the new look would help attract advertisers and companies.

“Any company which is interested can have its logo displayed on one side. On one side we can have the metro train with the Vidhana Soudha in the background. We wanted to try it this time but the idea came too late. The next time we change the design, we will do this,” Rao said.

The tokens were introduced earlier this month and the first batch of 50,000 tokens is already in circulation.

Rao said that cost of the old and new tokens to the BMRCL is about the same, between Rs 50 and Rs 80 per piece. The size and weight are also the same.

Nikhil Sharan, who occasionally uses the metro, appreciated the new look. “It is a welcome change. It would be interesting if they put fun one-line facts about the city on one side,” he said.

In the past, there have been several reports about the single-journey tokens being stolen, probably as souvenirs. Commuters would buy more tokens than required and pocket them. Rao said that after they introduced a penalty of Rs 200 for stealing tokens, the menace had reduced. He also said that they have added security measures to ensure that commuters do not steal tokens.

DH News Service