‘Smart’ idea to cut down train ticket queues

The long queues at central railway’s booking counters at local train stations could soon vanish as the railways has stepped up their campaign to promote smart card machines and plan to man them with railway employees.

The CR has begun scouting for employees from all departments, including workshops, to help them with this project. The more employees opt for this, it will be better for commuters.

The CR plans to guard all the automatic ticket-vending machines (ATVM) with railway employees on 58 stations so that they can sit and issue tickets from these machines to cut down the queues.
Smart card machines are not used by many, especially who travel on Sundays and holidays, and hence they do not know how to use them. This leads to more crowding at the stations.

“We have now called group-3 employees from all the departments of railways to come forward and man the machines so that commuters get some help at the booking counters. If the crowding is more, they will guide and help the passengers to procure tickets from the machines,” a senior official said.

“We will give preference to personnel from the commercial departments but will accept applications from all and place them at the stations wherever required. We will also train to use these machines,” he added.

Earlier, the railways had tried to man these machines with the help of disabled volunteers but later discontinued it, following complaints from commuters. “The idea of deputing railway employees is for the same purpose, so that there is no misappropriation,” he added.

Crowding at suburban ticket counters is one thing that the railways has not been able to solve completely, given the limited number of windows and booking clerks.