New Delhi: Metro commuters can now use their smartcards as keychains too.
The DMRC on Tuesday launched a new generation of smart cards in the form of key chains for the convenience of commuters who use Metro services everyday.
The sleek new `smart key chains` can be used in the same way as normal smart cards to enter and exit Metro stations, i.e., by swiping on the designated space on the automatic fare collection (AFC) gates.
A DMRC spokesman said the Metro also launched an identity card for its station managers and controllers authorised to realize penalty from commuters violating Delhi Metro rules and regulations in DMRC premises.
"The ‘Authorised For Penalty’ identity card is in the form of a wallet made of leather with a di-casted DMRC brass logo of 2 inch diametre inside," the spokesman said.
Station managers and controllers had been authorized to directly impose fines from November 2008 and penalty has been imposed on about 3,000 violators since then for offences such as spitting, squatting, nuisance and defacing Metro property.
However, there were instances of arguments between the staff and offenders who objected to their imposing fines without any authority proof. The new identity card has been launched to address this issue.
The spokesman said smart key chains were introduced as many Metro commuters use cars, two-wheelers or bicycles and normally use key chains which they can now replace with the new devices.
While the Metro smart cards are of the size of credit cards so that they can be kept in wallets, the smart key chains are much smaller (55 mm in length, 27 mm breadth and 3 mm thick) so that they can easily be carried in pockets.
DMRC has procured 50,000 smart key chains in the first lot and order for more will be placed depending on demand.
The smart key chains can be purchased for Rs 50 (non-refundable) at customer care centres at all Metro stations. As in the case of normal smart cards, 10 percent discount on fares will be given on use of smart key chains.
About 15 lakh smart cards are presently in circulation. Among metro commuters, 55 percent are smart card users while the rest use tokens.
PTI
