L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd has announced the introduction of a smart card, which can serve as a single interface for various other modes of transport, including bus, cabs and an app Tsavari, which provides quick interface for metro services.
Announcing the smart card launch, KT Rama Rao, Telangana Industries and IT Minister and Shivanand Nimbargi, Managing Director & CEO of L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Ltd, explained that the smart card has the capability to integrate 16 different services.
Other services will gradually be integrated with the card.
Rama Rao said, “this will bring about a major change in the public transport system in the city. While the 30-km stretch, which is the longest such launch at one go by any metro in the country, will be operational from Wednesday, the entire project is expected to be completed by mid-2019.”
He said that buses, electric vehicles, through partnerships will be introduced in a phased manner for transport to metro stations.
Soon, bicycle stations close to metros would also be introduced. Lauding NVS Reddy, Managing Director of HMRL, and his team and L&T for its work in bringing the project to this stage, when it is now ready for public launch, Rao hoped that people will bear with some minor teething troubles they may face when such a large project gets commissioned.
“This project is an example of engineering and financial innovation attempted in PPP mode. While the project gets going, we will soon work on phase two of the project which will connect other locations,” he said.
Ahead of the formal launch of the project, L&T, the concessionaire launched Swatch Metro campaign which highlights, My City, My Metro and My Pride.