By the end of this month, there will be automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs) on Central Railway stations which will allow you to swipe your debit or credit card to procure a ticket.
The CR authorities will instal 31 ATVMs this month on stations within Mumbai city limits. In other divisions, 21 such machines will be set up.
DNA was the first to report on the development ('Soon, buying train tickets using cards may be reality', April 23, 2018).
Also, tenders for a fresh batch of 242 such ATVMs have been called, since there has been a rise in number of commuters using ATVMs, mobile ticketing and Jansadharan Ticket Booking Seva under which shops outside railway stations sell local rail tickets for a rupee more than the fare.
Sources said that quality of ATVMs has improved after stricter penalties for contractors. "We have revised the penalty clause. If an ATVM is found to have a glitch, we will penalise 20 percent of total contract value each year until the contract ends," said a CR official. Also, a malfunctioning ATVM on CST-Kalyan/Vashi stretch needs to be attended within 2 hours; any more delay means a fine of Rs 200 per hour.
TICKET SALES ON CR
ATVM: 24%
JTBS: 14%
Ticket windows: 60%
Mobile: 2%
