IT-enabled ticketing system may soon be introduced in City Railway Station

IT-enabled ticketing system may soon be introduced in City Railway Station

The Hindu

South Western Railways is testing debit and credit card-based ticket vending machines

BANGALORE: If you have planned a train journey from Bangalore City Railway Station on an unreserved ticket, it is wiser to reach the station at least half an hour before the departure of the train.

Long queues crowding the entire portico of the station, have become the order of the day particularly during peak hours.

The City Railway Station caters to 130 pairs of trains in a day and over 1.5 lakh people visit the station. More than 50,000 people make their journey by unreserved tickets in a day during off-season and the infrastructure is not sufficient to cater to their needs.

Although the number of counters has increased from nine to 13, this has not solved the problem. Nagendra, who often commutes to Chennai, says he has to reach the station at least 45 minutes before the departure of the train to get a ticket. He says hardly seven counters remain open during peak hours while three to four counters remain open during off-peak hours.

Admitting that this is inconvenient for passengers who purchase unreserved tickets, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Bangalore Division, South Western Railway, S. Gagarin said the administration is contemplating introduction of technology to mitigate the problem besides enhancing manpower.

Mr. Gagarin told The Hindu that the South Western Railways is testing debit/credit card-based ticket vending machines. Once the tests are completed, six vending machines will be installed at the main entrance and some at the Malleswaram Gate, he said. He said they are planning to sell season tickets through the Internet.

Exact Fare counters

Exact Fare counters have been opened to issue tickets to popular destinations such as Mysore during peak hours, where printed tickets will be issued to commuters to prevent delay.

More such counters to other destinations are in the offing, he added. While four platform ticket vending machines are already working, platform tickets will be sold by STD booths and parking attendants in the station premises, he said

Mr. Gagarin said with the introduction of IT-enabled ticketing system, the problem will be solved.