The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : ATVMs at railway stations yet to be fully patronised

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Apr 10, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

ATVMs at railway stations yet to be fully patronised

R. Sujatha

“Sales may go up, once people exhaust season passes”

— PHOTO: V. GANESAN

FEW TAKERS: The automatic ticket vending machines at Beach Station on Monday afternoon were ignored even as people waited in queues to buy tickets.

CHENNAI: The automatic ticket vending machines installed in the various suburban stations seem to need a helping hand, for most commuters continue to throng the ticket counters.

At the Beach station on Monday, in over half an hour, only one person used the facility. Though the smart cards that can be used to get tickets from the vending machine can be bought at the station, very few are aware of it.

“Many of them feel the machine may gobble up their money and they may end up losing their place in the queue too,” said a senior official. To overcome the inhibition among the commuters, a couple of officers would be posted during rush hour to encourage patronage, said Chief Public Relations Officer Neenu Ittyerah.

There were about 50 to 60 persons in the queue in the three counters even as the two vending machines remained unused at the Beach station.

When enquired about the condition of the machine, a Railway staff said the machines were functioning.

The smart card system first introduced in the western and central sections has been well-received, say Railway officials.

The commuter, who used the vending machine on Monday afternoon, was a retired professor, travelling with his wife to Velacheri. S. Louis Raj, who lives in Porur, said he found the machine a convenient way to get tickets.

“I bought this smart card in Chromepet last week by paying Rs.100. I have so far bought tickets worth Rs. 35. It is like using an ATM card. I can also recharge it.”

A total of 50 machines were installed in 18 suburban stations a fortnight ago. The Railways has so far sold 2,034 cards netting an earning of Rs. 3.52 lakh.

Ms. Ittyerah said the sales were likely to go up, once people exhausted their season passes.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu