Metro smart cards for schoolkids

BANGALORE: Getting contactless smart cards for schoolchildren to use Metro Rail will be easier now. Schools can write to Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) office to buy these smart cards for Reach 1 (Byappanahalli to cricket stadium).
“The smart cards would be sold at Rs 50 after September 2. School principals can write to us if they need the cards in bulk.They could send a DD or cheque for the required number of cards. These cards will have validity for 10 years. These cards would be launched on September 2 and this offer will be valid till September-end,” a senior BMRCL official said.
The smart cards are like epurse applications, which can store money and the passengers could use it for travel. People using the cards would have 10% to 15% discount.
The passengers should swipe the smart cards to pass through the automated fare collection (ATC) gates.
There will be balance checkers at each station to check the balance amount in the card. It can be recharged through ATM, website or mobile phones. “The cards would be pre-loaded with Rs 50. The cards should be used and recharged on a regular basis. Otherwise, the ATC gates will not read the cards. This offer is specifically for schoolchildren,” the official said.
‘WORLD-CLASS RESTROOMS’
To generate non-fare revenues, BMRC will allow display of advertisement and collection of revenue from usage of restrooms.
Namma Metro will have ‘world class restrooms’ at the stations. BMRCL has invited proposal for national or international, companies, consortiums, joint ventures, corporate houses, public sector companies to submit their bid for participation in design, build, own and operate, maintain and transfer of high-end public restrooms at three stations on Reach 1 at MG Road, Ulsoor and Swami Vivekananda stations.