Commuters to be penalised for overstay at metro stations

Chennai: Overstaying at metro stations?  You will be penalised Tokens/tickets valid only for 20 minutes/1 hr. Stop thinking that you had outsmarted (Chennai metro rail limited) by enjoying a jolly ride between Koyambedu and Alandur in the swanky new metro trains for a meagre Rs 10 by boarding and alighting at the same station on the inaugural day or the following day. It was just a very brief lucky streak you had enjoyed, thanks to a general CMRL. The next time you intend to repeat that mischief, you will be penalized.

Yes. The black token or the glossy travel card you swipe at the gate before entering the paid area of a station will be valid only for 20 minutes if you are boarding and alighting at the same station. No matter how many times you swipe the card or drop the already collected coin while exiting the station, the door will not open if you overstay by a minute. Worse, the CMRL staff around will ‘escort’ you to the excess fare counter adjoining the gate.

You will be charged Rs 20 penalty plus the minimum ordinary fare of Rs 10 if you exit a minute more than 20 minutes at the same station where you started. The amount will increase by denominations of Rs 10 for every additional hour.However, the tickets/tokens will be valid for an hour if you are alighting at a different station. CMRL can penalise you up to Rs 100 maximum. The sum has been worked out by applying the logic that no person would stay on the premises beyond 10 hours.

“It is a mass rapid transit system. The idea is that people will enter and leave the station immediately. Staying beyond the stipulated time will cost more. It is done to avoid overstay at the stations and on board trains,” a CMRL officer explained, adding that the penalty (compensation fare as described by CMRL) has been worked out as per the Metro Rail (Operation and Maintenance Act 2002) of union ministry of Urban Development.