Transport activists and representatives of commuters’ interests in the railway administration disagree with the Railway Board’s decision to phase out coupon tickets by 2012.
Subhash Gupta, who is a part of several organisations representing commuters’ interests such as the Rail Pravasi Sangh, National Railway Users’ Consultative Committee and Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee, lambasted the Railway Board for the decision of phasing out coupon-based tickets which are validated using Coupon Vending Machines (CVMs).
“These CVMs perform the work of at least 300 ticket booking windows. If the railways can’t add more windows, why is it taking away this scheme?” he asked.
Gupta also criticised the railway administration’s dependence on Automated Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) as an option to the CVMs. “What is the point of promoting ATVMs over CVMs?
Commuters don’t understand the ATVMs. Instead of the phasing them out, CVMs should be made more commuter-friendly.”
Commenting on the Western Railway’s plan of introducing 155 new ATVMs on its suburban network, transport activist AV Shenoy asked, “Why is WR insisting on ATVMs only and discontinuing coupons which are more convenient?”
A fortnight ago, the board said it wanted to phase out CVMs by March 2012, a move which the Central Railway and the WR officials feel is not feasible. Almost 10% of the total ticket sales on CR and 18% of sales on WR are done through CVMs. An official said, “CVMs are gaining popularity as commuters want to avoid queues. It will not be possible to convince commuters to shift to ATVMs. The board should reconsider its decision.”
