Travel In Chennai Metro With WhatsApp Ticket: CMRL Launches Chatbot-Based QR Ticketing Solution

Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) recently launched a WhatsApp chatbot-based QR ticketing solution for both Android and iOS. The chatbot is available in two languages: Tamil and English.

According to M A Siddique, managing director of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), commuters can now generate up to six transferable tickets with a validity of 24 hours through the new WhatsApp e-ticket facility. These tickets that can be shared with others also come with a 20 per cent discount.

Different modes of tickets, including tokens, WhatsApp e-tickets, and soon-to-be-launched options on Airtel and Paytm, are being introduced by CMRL to make it convenient for commuters to buy tickets in a way that suits their preferences, said Siddique.

Promotional tickets will soon be launched by Chennai Metro Rail at a reduced price for residents in each station's neighbourhood. The aim is to encourage more people to use the trains.

To avail WhatsApp e-tickets, one can send a message with 'Hi' to 8300086000 and select the origin and destination stations. Passengers can pay through the payment gateway and a QR ticket will be generated swiftly.

The service does, however, have certain limitations. To begin with, tickets cannot be cancelled. Second, station names are shown in alphabetical order, and users cannot scroll up or down. Users will instead have to use the 'previous' and 'more' choices each time.

Furthermore, the chatbot allows users to check their journey fares, save their favourite routes, update their profile, and modify their language preferences. The helpline provides information on CMRL business hours as well as terms and conditions.

Users may purchase tickets between 4 am and 11.30 pm, according to the chatbot's response. The chatbot also provides commuters with a list of dos and don'ts.

About 64 per cent of Chennai Metro riders use Smart Cards.

Furthermore, the company is working towards increasing parking capacity at their stations in the near future.

Phase I Of Chennai Metro

Phase I of the Chennai Metro Rail project covers a length of 45.046 km network and consists of two corridors i.e. Corridor-I from Washermenpet to airport (23.085 km), Corridor-2 from Chennai Central to St Thomas Mount (21.961 km).

About 55 per cent of the corridors in Phase I are underground and the remaining are elevated.

Out of 32 stations, 13 are elevated and the remaining 19 are underground. Inter corridor interchange stations are available in Alandur (elevated) and Chennai Central (underground) respectively.

Phase II of Chennai Metro

Phase II expansion has been planned for a length of 118.9 km network with 128 numbers of stations.  

It consists of three corridors i.e. Corridor-3 From Madhavaram to SIPCOT (45.8 km), Corridor-4 from Lighthouse to Poonamalle Bypass (26.1 km), Corridor-5 from Madhavaram to Sholinganallur (47 km).  

The estimated cost of the project is Rs 63,246 crore.