Chennai Metro Rail Ltd (CMRL) will issue smart cards that can be used as a multi purpose card including for use in Automatic Parking System at multiple locations and for small retail transactions.

Eight companies, including Japan’s Nippon Signal Co Ltd, are in race to provide APS for CMRL.

CMRL plans to have a sophisticated APS that will include elements ranging from traditional traveller information system to quick and automatic gate control systems using contactless media such as CMRL Travel Card and Near Field Communication, advanced parking management application, pre-trip web-based information systems, Variable Message Signboards display boards, real-time information on mobile application.

Automatic fare collection

The other seven companies who have bid for the project are Skidata India, Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System, Building Control Solutions, Siepmann’s Card Systems, Samarth Softech, Secure Parking Solutions and Smart Parking India, sources said. Last November, Nippon Signal expanded its business in India looking at opportunities such as modernisation of railway signalling system for national railways and streamlining for metro system. The APS is part of the Chennai Metro’s automatic fare collection that will support both, contactless smart card and contactless smart token fare media.

Common card

Sources said that similar to the transport system in countries like Singapore, in the long run, the CMRL plans to promote its travel card as a common card that can be used for travel across different modes of transport and for other purposes like buses, parking and taxi services.

This will enhance passenger experience and reduce the burden of handling cash and settlement for operators.

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