Sources say the current ticketing gates already experience glitches, making it difficult for people to get through them during the peak hours on some days.
| Photo Credit: B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

By January 2026, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) will start upgrading the automatic fare collection or ticketing gates in the 54-km Phase I and Phase I Extension. The need for this arises as CMRL is gradually switching from a ‘closed loop technology’ to an ‘open loop’ one.

According to CMRL officials, the current smart cards, which use the ‘closed loop technology’, will become outdated soon. In two months, people will no longer be able to use these cards to pay the fare and must switch to other available ticketing options, such as the National Common Mobility Cards or Singara Chennai Cards.

“There are a total of 41 stations of the Phase I and Phase I Extension. If we start in January 2026, we can gradually remove the old gates and install the new ones. It could take about a week to 10 days to replace the gates at each station, depending on its size. By June 2026, we plan to complete replacing the gates at all stations,” an official said.

But, sources said the current ticketing gates already experienced glitches, making it difficult for people to get through them during the peak hours on some days. “Though there have been no major breakdowns, the gates occasionally stop working at times when there is a rush. One of our employees has to scramble to set things right. By then, the number of waiting people increases, and the crowd becomes restless. Ideally, installation of the new gates at the stations of the Phase I Network should take priority,” said another official.

Phase II stations

However, CMRL will first use these modern ticketing gates in the upcoming Phase II Network. Since the Poonamallee-Porur stretch of the Phase II Project’s corridor 4 (Light House to Poonamallee) may be opened by December this year, the gates will be installed at the stations on this stretch.

“By this August, we hope to start fitting the machines,” another official said.