Mumbai Metro 1 to launch instant cashback for commuters from February 1

Representational Picture

There is some good news for the commuters using the 11.O4 km long Versova Andheri Ghatkopar(VAG) metro line as Mumbai Metro One has launched instant cashback for metro commuters w.e.f from February 1. Mumbai metro one will also offer instant cashback to store value pass holders too and in a press release issued to the media it has been stated that Mumbai metro one is the first metro in India to introduce instant cashback on metro recharge and the move is aimed at encouraging cashless smart card travel.

"Since its launch in June 2014, Mumbai Metro One has been following a base fare of Rs. 10 | 20 | 30 | 40. Apart from the base fare, Mumbai Metro offers 3 additional ticketing products: Store Value Pass (SVP), Return Journey Token (RJT) and Monthly Trip Pass (MTP), which have been designed keeping commuter needs in mind. The product pricing has been done in a manner to popularise Metro, promote regularity of usage and consequently increase ridership." stated the press release.

Also See: Photos: Safety inspection at Mumbai Metro stations

Of all the ticketing products, SVP has become the most preferred product by commuters because of the following reasons:

• Most flexible product; travel from any station to any station.
• Balance available is refundable.
• No need to go for ticketing daily.
• Can be recharged across multiple platforms

The press release also stated that currently, around 1/3rd of Mumbai Metro commuters travel using SVP. Moreover, SVP has emerged as the highest growing product registering 51% growth YoY. To strike a win-win proposition, Mumbai Metro One wishes to go with popular commuters' choice and encourage more and more commuters to take benefit of SVP.

"Mumbai Metro intends to introduce an Instant Cashback on SVP w.e.f. 01.02.2019 and restructure the existing travel based incentive. This is to make SVP even more popular and encourage commuters to recharge with higher value. Commuters will now enjoy Cashback ranging from 2% to 10% for recharge ranging from Rs 200 to Rs 600 and above respectively. Of the many firsts to its credit, Mumbai Metro is the first Metro in the country to introduce Instant Cashback for the benefit of its commuters." states the press release.

Earlier, SVP commuters enjoyed incentive piecemeal ranging from Rs.0 to Rs.5 as they commuted. Now, they will get Instant Cashback against recharge. Hence, it offers better time value of money. The new Cashback on SVP is aimed at encouraging regular commuters to migrate from daily queuing at ticketing counters to SVP. Use of card products on AFC gates improves Metro efficiency as card commuters take 40% lesser time to pass through AFC gates.

Benefits of new Cashback scheme:

• Earlier commuters who traveled shorter distances (0-2 km slab) didn't get any incentive. Now all the commuters will be able to avail this scheme.
• Commuters will be able to easily identify the amount of Cashback earned while traveling by metro.
• The Cashback offered by metro is equal to travel balance, which can be fully utilized while traveling.
• The Cashback will have long validity, which can be renewed by 6 months (180 days) with every recharge.
• Mumbai Metro will offer one time 10% flat Cash-Back on the entire remaining balance of 31st Jan' 2019 (end of business day) so as to take care of incentive that a customer would have got while traveling with the current balance.

With the base fare of Rs 10, 20, 30 and 40 for Single Journey Token remaining unchanged and the introduction of Cashback on SVP, the price of MTP has been marginally increased by Rs.25 to Rs.50 for 45 trips, which effectively translates to a marginal increase from 55 paise to Rs 1.11 per trip. Despite this increase, MTP will still remain to be the most economical product offering 14% to 24% incentive.

An MMOPL spokesperson said, "Over the last 4.5 years, Mumbai Metro's loyal commuters have embraced the metro culture. We believe it's time our regular commuters move up the value chain. We are pleased to introduce an Instant Cashback on recharge of Store Value Pass to further popularize the product. We want commuters to use a smart card and help us increase efficiency while ticketing and entry/exit."

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