A day before Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu was scheduled to arrive in Mumbai, to inaugurate the mobile ticketing system today, the Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) for it were placed at Dadar station
A day before Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu was scheduled to arrive in Mumbai, to inaugurate the mobile ticketing system today, the Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) for it were placed at Dadar station.
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The use of these ATVMs is the last step in the system where one can get a print of the ticket from the station where the train is to be boarded. An application needs to be downloaded for smartphones for mobile ticketing (IR mobile ticketing UTS).
After registration, a unique login ID and password is given and following other steps, a booking can be done. When this reporter tried using an ATVM, it showed an option of mobile ticket on screen that had to be clicked. After this, it opened a page asking for the mobile number and booking ID.
Then the submit button had to be clicked for a printout of a suburban ticket. The system also provides season passes. The system will be launched at Dadar station and commuters will be able to use ATVMs at Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, Kurla, Thane and Kalyan stations soon and thereafter in a phased manner at other stations.
The cost
Officials said that those using smartphones can download an application from Google Play and Windows Store provided by the Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS). “There won’t be any surcharge,” said an official.
However, those using feature phones and those who use SMS system will have to pay the charges of a normal text which is Rs 1 or so, over the fare of the ticket. The Railways are looking to create a number for users of such phones so they can also use the system.
Presently, through Jansadharan Ticket Booking System (JTBS), shops outside rail premises sell suburban tickets with Rs 1 as surcharge over and above the regular ticket fare. Passengers can purchase only current tickets and no advance booking is allowed in the mobile ticketing system.
They can also book a maximum of four tickets in second class and one ticket in first class compartments. Passengers can also cancel their ticket as per rules, through mobiles if the ticket is not printed, and refund will be credited to their R-wallet. Once the ticket is printed, cancellation can be done at unreserved ticketing system (UTS) counters only.
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