Rly ticketing solutions face shortage problems

Even as the railways is trying hard to popularise the Automated Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs),the Central Railway (CR) is perturbed by a shortage of systems.

CR has 76 suburban stations and 175 ATVMs which are unevenly distributed. We have ATVMs set up at 51 stations, said Shriniwas Mudegrikar,chief spokesperson,CR. Sources,however,say that until last week only 35 stations had the facility and the CR was planning to redistribute the machines. All our stations have ATVMs, said a Western Railway (WR) spokesperson. Mudgerikar added,The railways have asked for more ATVMs so the gap will be filled at the earliest.

Though railways claims that it was planning to redistribute the ATVMs across the CR,several small stations like Chinchpokli,Currey Road and some stations on the Harbour Line of CR like the King Circle still do not have the facility.

There hasnt been any ticketing system launched by railways that has worked without problems. In the case of railway coupons,machines do not function properly and commuters have to ask for rubber stamps from the stationmaster to ensure they get a valid ticket. Even the ambitious Go-Mumbai card scheme is yet to take off on WR. The system is operational on CR but hasnt gained much popularity.

The railways introduced ATVMs with the help of Centre for Railway Information Systems to decrease the load on ticket counters. It was hoped that the ticketing system would enable commuters escape serpentine queues. The new facilities also enable passengers buy regular tickets and renew their monthly/ tri-monthly season ticket. However,the facilities are yet to give the desired results.

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