Sun Aug 17 18:15:58 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing and rewriting the provided text:

**Chennai Metro’s Popular Singara Chennai Card Faces Recharge Woes Despite High Usage**

**CHENNAI, August 18, 2025** – The Singara Chennai Card, Chennai Metro Rail’s National Common Mobility Card, has become the most popular ticketing option for commuters, with 5.156 million users utilizing it in July alone across the 54-km Phase I and Phase I extension network. However, a significant hurdle remains for users: the need to physically validate online recharges at ticket counters, adding unnecessary time to their journeys.

Despite the convenience of online top-ups, commuters like Poornika Anandan and A. Raghavan report frustration over having to queue at stations like Chennai Central and Vadapalani to authenticate their recharges. Anandan admits to sometimes opting for QR tickets during peak hours to avoid the queues, while Raghavan questions why CMRL, which actively promotes the Singara Chennai Card, hasn’t streamlined the recharge process.

“It defeats the purpose of online recharge if we still have to stand in line,” Raghavan stated.

CMRL officials acknowledge the issue and say they are actively working on a solution. “A pilot study is under way to incorporate this facility,” an official confirmed, promising a resolution to eliminate the need for physical validation soon. The move aims to further enhance the user experience and encourage wider adoption of the Singara Chennai Card.

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