RAILWAY SAMACHAR

SCR launches 19 ticket-vending machines

People can buy tickets anywhere in the zone using smart card

For complaints, passengers can message to 81212-81212; replies will be sent within 24 hours

The zone registers an all-time high incremental tonnage (10 tonnes) till now this year

HYDERABAD : The South Central Railway on Monday launched 19 of a total of 75 automatic ticket-vending machines (ATVM) in Begumpet, Hi-Tec City and Secunderabad stations, apart from announcing an SMS-based ‘Passenger Complaint & Suggestion’.

SCR General Manager M.S. Jayanth told a press conference here that the initiative was only to reduce the long queues at booking counters. While the system was in place in Chennai and Mumbai, here it was only for suburban travel. People could buy tickets anywhere in the zone with the smart card and buy platform tickets.

The smart card costs Rs. 80 (Rs. 30 security deposit and Rs. 50 ticket). Passengers could then top it up in multiples of Rs. 50 each up to a maximum of Rs. 1,000. Every time they swiped the card, the amount would be deduced automatically.

As for the complaint and suggestion system, passengers could message to 81212-81212 and would be instantly given an automated acknowledgement with a unique identity number to know the status of their communication. Replies would be sent within 24 hours, he said.

SCR earnings

The zone had registered an all-time high incremental tonnage of 10 tonnes by carrying 70 tonnes till now this year. The SCR was a topper compared to other zones. The gross earnings had grown by 9.1 per cent, an increase of Rs. 511.74 crore. While Rs. 4,000 worth of works were on, Rs.4,593 crore was required for completing projects sanctioned in 1993-94.

Among other focus areas were security and passenger amenities. While 83 home guards were inducted for security at MMTS stations, 212 more were sought. He said the Railway Board had sanctioned Rs. 160.76 crore in the current fiscal, up from Rs. 34.12 crore in 2005-06.