Calcutta, July 30: The new smart cards and multi-ride cards for Calcutta Metro commuters were launched today.

The cards are part of a new ticketing system, the first leg of which was implemented on July 7. “The old paper ticket system will cease to operate from Monday,” said S. Das, chief operations manager, Metro Rail. Only the tokens, multi-ride cards and smart cards will be available now.

The smart cards will be available for Rs 100, 300 and 500. The multi-ride cards will be for four categories —12 rides (valid for 21 days), 40 rides (30 days), 60 rides (60 days) and 80 rides (90 days).

Metro authorities will sell four lakh smart and multi-ride cards, of which 1.5 lakh were launched today. “The rest will be available within a few days,” said Das.

The Centre for Railway Information Systems has developed the software for the smart cards in Calcutta.

The process of refund for existing smart cards will start from Monday.

For getting a refund, a passenger has to go to the station manager’s office at any station and fill up a form. “The station manager will refund the security deposit of Rs 100 and in case of claim for balance, he’ll issue a receipt to the passenger based on which the commuter can claim refund from the same station after 14 days,” said an official.

Sources said officials apprehended long queues at Metro counters when a large number of 40,000-odd smart card users would line up to get new cards.

To facilitate passengers, Metro would open its ticket counters from noon on Sunday so people can buy the smart cards. Trains would start running from 2pm tomorrow like other Sundays.