Smart Cards in Railway Station

In the railway budget, the Railway Minister Shri Lalu Prasad informed that the Multi-purpose card has been named ‘Smart card’ and the sale of this card already started. These cards will be available at stations, bus depots of BEST and various other locations in the city. He clarified that there would be no extra burden on passenger for buying tickets through the smart card. However, only a marginal fee would be payable on buying and recharging of the card. He expressed the hope that the initiative would end long queues at ticket counters for daily train passengers in Mumbai and Chennai suburban ticket counters. (It is successful at Mumbai railway station)

How to get card?
1. You can get it at major railway stations’ ticket counters.
2. Just pay Rs.100 and get the card. (Rs.50 is the caution deposit for the card which is refundable, and Rs.50 is your initial balance at your card)
3. The machines are named as ‘Automatic ticket vending machine (ATVM)’.

Benefits of card:
1. Use it for taking suburban tickets, platform tickets and suburban season tickets.
2. No need of any ID proof and photograph.
4. Rechargeable from min of Rs.50 to max of Rs.500 in multiples of 50.
5. Rs.5 is bonus for every recharge amount of Rs.100.
6. The card is valid for 6 months from the every recharge date.
7. On returning the card, Rs.10 will be charged as closing charges and Rs.40 will be returned from the caution deposit.

Future plans:
1. Bus tickets issue through these cards.
2. Railway reservation.
3. Express train tickets.
4. Linking with Bank accounts etc…

Automatic ticket vending machines are available at:
1. Chennai central.
2. Tambaram.
3. Mambalam.
4. Chennai Beach.
5. Chennai Egmore.
6. Major stations between ‘Park station’ and ‘Tambaram’.
7. Chengalpattu
8. Arakonam; and will be soon at all the railway stations.