Hi-tech ticket vending machines for 2 stations

THE MACHINES WERE FIRST INTRODUCED IN DECEMBER 2013. THEY WILL ISSUE FIRST AND SECOND-CLASS TICKETS AND RENEWAL OF SEASON TICKETS

Commuters queuing up across harbour line stations in Navi Mumbai might soon get respite from the daily ordeal.

To ease the huge rush of commuters due to lack of manpower to run all the ticket counters, the central railway has now decided to introduce currency-cum-coin ticket vending machines (COTVMs) in the city.

To begin with, the machines which are both cash/coin operated will be first put up at Vashi and Panvel. Currently, the COTVM machines are installed at CST, Dadar, Kurla, LTT, Churchgate and Mumbai Central.

The machines were first introduced in December 2013 at CST and Churchgate stations on a trial run however after receiving good response the railways are slowly introducing at other stations as well.

Officials said that there have been repeated complaints from the commuters in Navi Mumbai as well as the passengers’ welfare associations on the lack of functioning ticket counters in the stations. “Hence we decided to install these machines on the harbour line stations of Vashi and Panvel first and gradually at all the other stations. The COTVMs are convenient to use where commuters just need to insert a currency note or coin to get the tickets,” said AK Singh, PRO Central Railway.

To help the commuters a list of do’s and don’ts will be put up on top of the COTVMs. The machines will issue first and second-class tickets and platform tickets, renewal of season tickets.

Commuters struggling to get a ticket in the long queues every day will be relived with the new machines in place.

“Getting a ticket in most of the stations especially in the rush hours is a task and we face delay almost every day. The installation of the COTVMs is a good initiative however railway authorities should ensure it is free of technical glitches and maintained regularly,” said Riddhi Sanyal, 23, resident of Seawoods.