Staff appointed to operate ticket-vending machines

Amit Bathla

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, June 29

The authorities have appointed three persons at all three automatic ticket-vending machines installed at the railway station to help passengers buy tickets.

During a random visit to the railway station, it has come to light that with the move, the rush of passengers has decreased at the ticket counters.

The employees work in three shifts of eight hours, which start from 8 am. They also call passengers to purchase tickets. Moreover, passengers can be seen seeking information related to trains and platforms. In the past, these ticket-vending machines had faced technical glitches.

A passenger said, “It is a good decision to appoint persons at ticket-vending machines as we find it difficult to operate them. It saves passengers, particularly elderly ones, from getting harassed by waiting in long queues at the ticket windows.”

Ramswaroop Meena, Station Superintendent, Bathinda railway station, said: “The persons have been working at ticket-vending machines for quite some time now.”

Usually, ticket-vending machines are operated using smart cards, which can be purchased from ticket counters. To purchase a ticket, passengers have to place the smart card on a slot in these machines. After selecting the route and destination using the touch screen, these ask for confirmation. After doing this, the ticket is printed and delivered. The ticket-vending machines automatically charge the amount from the passenger’s smart card. With the appointment of employees, passengers can purchase tickets from these machines using cash. With the appointment of employees, passengers can purchase tickets from these machines using cash.