Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) which are located at different railway stations in the city will now be controlled by some retired railway employees, who assist the commuters to get tickets quickly.
In order to make it convenient to the commuters, the South Central Railway (SCR), has hired some retired employees, as ATVM facilitators at a few stations in the city. According to the sources, the ATVM facilitators, will operate the machine and issue MMTS, platform and general second class tickets. As of now only 21 retired employees have been deployed to serve at Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Begumpet, Lingampally, Sitaphalmandi, Kacheguda and Malakpet railway stations.
According to the sources everyday about 8,860 tickets are issued through 76 ATVMs provided at 16 MMTS stations in twin cities. Everyday 60 new ATVM Smart Cards, which provide access to the machines, are sold and about 460 Smart Cards are recharged per day. Around 11,000 passengers are using ATVMs to purchase their tickets.
Officials also asked the commuters to make the best use of the facility by purchasing ATVM smart cards, so that they can simply avoid standing in long queues. With the help of facilitators they can get the tickets and there is nothing to pay extra to the facilitators, said the sources.
Source: The Hindu