Kochi: The monthly passes that will offer upto 40 per cent discount for metro rides will be rolled out next month though there will be no Christmas or New Year festive discount travel offers. “The conceptual plan has been finalized. The monthly passes will be offered to regular commuters from next month,” Kochi Metro Rail Ltd Managing Director Mohammad Hanish told DC.

The free return journey ticket scheme, under which commuters can avail a free return trip at the cost of a single journey, on offer for the past over a month ended on Saturday night. “There won’t be any such schemes for Christmas or New Year. The demand has seen a steady increase and we expect joyriders too over the next week,” the top official said.





“Using a monthly pass, a commuter can make 60 trips and has to top up for further use. He/She could enjoy 40 per cent discount for the journeys. The commuters availing the monthly passes will also be given a discount in parking rates,” a metro spokesperson said. Besides the monthly pass scheme, KMRL is also considering offering new fare products like student passes, weekend passes, daily passes and seasonal passes in phases.

“The idea of offering such discounts is to woo more commuters, especially those using cars. This will also indirectly help in bringing about reduction in pollution levels and the congestion in city roads,” Mohammad Hanish said. Currently, the minimum fare is Rs 10 and the maximum Rs 50 for the 18-km Aluva-Maharajas College section. Meanwhile, the Kochi1 card, the unique open-loop prepaid smart card which will facilitate multi-modal transport ticketing, will be experimented in 250 private buses running through the city next month.

“Initially, the Kochi One card-compatible machines will be installed in over 250 buses after which it will be gradually expanded to nearly 900 buses under seven societies. All bus operators have accepted in-principle to adopt the system,” a senior metro official said. Two ticket machines each will be provided free to each of the private buses though the owners will have to meet the service charges.