Mangaluru, July 23: Here after the train commuters need not wait in queues to buy unreserved tickets. Two Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVM) has been installed at Mangalore Central Railway Station by Southern Railway to dispense season, platform and unreserved railway tickets.
One needs to flash a smart card in front of the ATVMs. The Smart Cards are available at the railway station ticket counter on payment of Rs 100 and out of this sum, Rs 50 is refundable security deposit, while the remaining amount can be used to buy tickets. Though one can top up the card upto Rs 5000, it has only six months of validity. But concessional tickets cannot be purchased through ATVMs.
Passengers can get a 15 per cent bonus on the value of the ticket, in case they travel upto a distance of 150 kms. The bonus amount will be credited to the smart card. One has to surrender the smart card to get a refund and a fee of Rs 10 would be deducted towards clerical expenses.
To guide persons who wish to buy tickets through ATVM’s a retired employee has been appointed there.
