The Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) installed in different railway stations in Salem Railway Division have evoked good response from the travelling public.
The Salem Division recently commissioned 15 ATVMs in nine major railway stations including Coimbatore, Salem, Salem Town, Tirupur, Erode, Karur, Attur and Chinnasalem on a trial basis.
The commuters for getting the tickets through the ATVM should buy smart card which is priced at Rs. 100. The smart card could be used by anybody and is transferrable.
From day one, the new facility has been well received by the travelling public. It has proved a big hit in Tirupur. About 1,800 – 2,000 people procure the tickets every day using the ATVM at Tirupur Railway Station, Sarala Balagopal, Chief Commercial Manager, Southern Railway, told The Hindu. This has reduced the presence of long queues in front of the unreserved ticket counters in a big way, she said.
In other cities and towns too, this facility has been well received. In Salem junction, more than 200 people collected the tickets on an average every day. About 50 smart cards have been sold out in the first five days in Salem Junction and Salem town stations alone.
Ms. Sarala Balagopal said that the ATVM reduced the last minute rush in the unreserved ticket counters. She said that five per cent bonus value added to the smart card at the time of recharge is an added advantage for purchase of unreserved tickets, platform tickets and renewal of season tickets, which means a concession of 5 per cent on the ticket value.
To enable the people to get accustomed with the ATVMs, the Southern Railway has posted retired railway staff as facilitators to guide the people in collecting the tickets, Mrs. Balagopal said adding that this practice will be continued for a few more months.
Even while welcoming the new facility, a cross section of the travelling public of Salem city wants the Salem Junction authorities to shift both the ATVMs to a prominent place. It should be set up near the unreserved booking counters which will attract the attention of the people instantly as they enter the main entrance hall, says S. Kathiresan, a consumer activist.
