Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Mar 24, 2008
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Online edition of India's National Newspaper Monday, Mar 24, 2008 ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version |
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Tamil Nadu
Automatic ticket vending machines installed at Tambaram railway station. TAMBARAM: Queues in front ticket counters in suburban railway stations may soon be a thing of the past. So will be skirmishes between railway staff and commuters over “exact change” needed for getting tickets. Automatic ticket vending machines using ‘smart card’ designed and developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems will be installed at all suburban railway stations. Many such machines have been installed in Tambaram, Meenambakkam and St. Thomas Mount stations over the past few days and are being tested. They would be dedicated soon, sources in Southern Railway said on Sunday. The facility operates similar to the Automated Teller Machines. The commuters have to purchase ‘Smart Card’ coupons, place them in a slot on the ticket vending machine, select the route and destination on the touch screen and once the details are confirmed, a computer-printed ticket is delivered. Commuters have to initially buy Rs.100 coupons and later recharge them in denominations of Rs. 50. Recharge of the coupons could be made in specified counters, the details of which would announced later. The Southern Railway has proposed a five per cent bonus on Rs.100 coupons, the sources said. Once the ticket is purchased through the machines, the appropriate amount would be deducted from the commuters’ coupon. On Sunday, curious commuters thronged the ticket vending machines in Tambaram – an indication to its potential for patronage. Tambaram is an important station on the suburban network of Chennai given the volume of traffic and revenue from ticket sales. The monthly sale of journey tickets has risen from 5.68 lakh in May 2003 to 7.72 lakh in May 2007 and the volume continues to rise. The combined earning by way of sales of journey tickets and season is about Rs.1.25 crore a month. “Use of technology to lessen inconvenience of the commuters is welcome,” said R.A. Mukunthan, Treasurer of Perungalathur – Paranur Rail Commuters Association. He added that importance should be given to proper maintenance of the facilities. The Southern Railway sources said that initially the staff would be present near the machines to assist the commuters.
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