Central Rly introduces 'Go Mumbai' pre-paid smart cards

Mumbai, Apr 24 (UNI) The Central Railway (CR), in association with Kaizen Automation Private Ltd, today introduced a smart card, 'Go Mumbai', with a view to reduce the burden on train commuters.

The card is a 'pre-paid card', which will have a re-loaded specific amount and the commuter has to flash the card at the start and end of the journey on the validation machines placed by the company at the stations, which will deduct the amount from the card.

The ticket examiners will have a device to check the validity and the class of travel, which will make the travel in its suburban locals easier.

While launching the card, CR general manager Sowmya Raghavan said ''The railways has many plans to improve the travel of the commuters in local trains and this is one of the steps in that direction. We will introduce the remaining schemes in the near future.'' She added, ''The railways will use information technology to reduce the woes of the travellers and it will not be long, when booking tickets through mobile phones or counters in their neighbourhood or automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs) at stations can be done.'' Kaizen Automation managing director Prakash Kamat said, ''We have placed the machines at many places in the railway stations, which can be used by the commuters and will soon increase the number with the increase in usage.'' CR chief commercial manager Partha Sengupta said, ''The 'Go Mumbai smart card' can be used on the suburban section of the Central and Harbour lines. It will soon be started on the Western line and BEST routes. The traveller will have to pay a nominal fee of Rs five per month to use the card.'' UNI JN SSS KK BST1757