Chennai Metro Rail is yet to replace and add more ticketing gates across the 54-km phase I network. Nearly a year after the bids were floated to purchase additional automatic fare collection (AFC) or the ticketing gates, the tenders are yet to be awarded to a contractor.

One of the main reasons why procurement of these ticketing gates is essential is, even after all these years, commuters still are unable to swipe their tickets through all entrances in some of the stations including Anna Nagar East, Nehru Park, Kilpauk, Pachaiyappa’s College, and Mannady.

This results in commuters hurrying and taking longer walks to enter the stations to board the train in the rush hours, causing a lot of inconvenience. Another reason is, sources said, in the peak hours, in some of the stations such as Chennai airport, Nandanam, Thirumangalam and Chennai Central, minor glitches continue to occur inconveniencing commuters.

“The number of glitches has come down, but they still persist. During the peak hours, even if the gates don’t function for a brief period, passengers end up waiting for a long time. Replacing the ticketing gates should be expedited at the earliest,” a source said.

According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), they floated the tender in April last year to purchase ticketing gates for the phase I network and some sections of the phase II network. Under this bid, CMRL had not only planned to replace the existing gates with new upgraded gates but also install additional gates in stations where there is a shortfall.

“Though we floated the bids on time, there was a delay because the bidders sought an extension of time and there were also a lot of queries that had to be addressed. But these processes are done and within a few weeks, the tender will be awarded to a contractor,” an official said.

After the contract is awarded, it will take nearly six months for the chosen firm to deliver the ticketing gates.

“We may need at least a month’s time to fix them in the stations. This is because we have to do it in the non-operational hours,” another official said.