Chennai Metro Rail has announced that top-up services for its existing travel cards will be discontinued starting 1 August. The move signals a complete shift to the National Common Mobility Card (NCMC)-enabled Singara Chennai Card, reinforcing the city’s commitment to smart, sustainable and integrated transport systems. According to Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), commuters holding the older CMRL-branded smart cards will no longer be able to recharge them at any of the 41 metro stations across the network from the specified date. However, cardholders can continue to use their existing cards until the stored value is exhausted.
Once the remaining balance drops below ₹50, passengers will be required to surrender the outdated card at any metro station counter. In exchange, they will be issued the Singara Chennai Card free of cost, with both the residual balance and deposit amount seamlessly transferred to the new card. The Singara Chennai Card, compliant with the NCMC standard introduced by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, was rolled out in April 2023. Designed to simplify travel across various modes of public transport—including metros, buses, and even toll systems—it represents a forward-looking vision of intermodal, cashless, and eco-friendly commuting.
Metro officials have indicated that the change is part of a broader vision to enable commuters to use a single card across multiple transport platforms, thereby improving travel convenience while reducing the carbon footprint associated with paper-based and cash-intensive systems. “The shift is aimed at unifying the city’s mobility services under one smart framework. The National Common Mobility Card offers greater flexibility, security, and environmental efficiency to passengers,” said a senior official from CMRL. The digital transition is also aligned with larger national objectives to promote paperless, contactless payments, and enable interoperability across regional transport networks. For a growing urban population reliant on public transportation, the move ensures that payment systems evolve alongside infrastructure expansion.
Though the process may bring some short-term inconvenience to occasional users and older commuters, CMRL has assured that assistance desks will be active at all stations to guide the card exchange process and answer commuter queries. The adoption of a common mobility platform also supports Chennai’s long-term climate goals by reducing reliance on single-use tickets and enhancing efficiency in fare collection. By streamlining entry and exit points and encouraging data-based service improvements, the Singara Chennai Card is expected to boost commuter satisfaction and system reliability.
As metro ridership in Chennai continues to increase, experts say this card migration reflects an important step toward building a more accessible and environmentally responsible transport network—one that offers continuity, clarity and convenience to every citizen.
Also Read : Nagpur Metro Expands Shared Auto Service To 24 Stations
