Kochi: In a major relief to train passengers in North Kerala, unreserved tickets are availablei n seconds without standing in queues.
As part of digitalisation of Indian Railways, Palakkad division has introduced a QR code facility for the passengers who are in a hurry to buy tickets without wasting their time standing in queues. This has come as a great boon to people travelling through major stations like Palakkad, Shoranur, Kozhikode, Kannur.
The facility has been introduced in 61 stations under Palakkad division. The passengers need to have an Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) app on their phones to scan the QR code displayed at different locations in the stations.
When contacted, a senior official of the Palakkad division told newsskerala.comt hat literally all the stations have been brought under the facility.
Most of these stations struggle to meet the demand of travellers during peak hours. Inefficiency of some ticket counter staff results in passengers missing their trains.
The outsourcing of ticket sales through private agencies has come as a great relief to the people.On the contrary, Thiruvananthapuram division has fared badly in digitalisation and outsourcing of ticket sales through private ticket vendors in the station.
Most of the times during peak hours only one counter is found functioning in Kottayam. On top of it the arrogance of the counter staff is unparalleled. Most of the time the counter staff refuse to accept Debit cards in place of cash, a train traveller said.
A senior official of Thiruvananthapuram division said that there was poor response from parties to sell tickets outside regular counters.
He said that the division has not introduced QR code facilities in its stations. He said the railways have place automatic ticket vending machines in many stations.
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