India’s first RailOne Self-Ticketing Zone to come up in state

Kochi: With an aim to modernise passenger amenities and eliminate ticket counter queues, major railway stations in state, including Ernakulam Junction, Thiruvananthapuram Central and Tripunithura, will soon feature a dedicated RailOne Self-Ticketing Zone.A first-of-its-kind initiative for Indian railways, this tech-driven zone aims to leverage the growing popularity of digital ticketing while providing much-needed relief to daily commuters, who will be spared of standing in queues.“Currently commuters can get tickets through counters and ATVM (automatic ticket vending machines). With the new facility, we aim to introduce a new point of contact for availing unreserved tickets. RailOne app is getting popular and this has encouraged us to go for the initiative,” a senior railway official told TOI.Authorities aim to roll out the self-ticketing zones before Onam. “The first of the facilities will be introduced at the three stations soon on an experimental basis. Such zones will come up at 102 stations in the division, from Thiruvananthapuram to Vadakkencherry, before Onam,” the official added.Commuters availing unreserved tickets via RailOne app from self-ticketing zones will get a three per cent discount on fares. The dedicated zones will be set up at the entrance of concourse of the ticketing building.“The zones will come up at a prominent area in all these stations. Multiple 65-inch TV screens will be set up there. A commuter has to simply scan QR code from one screen, while the other will display real-time transit data, including train schedules for the next three hours, live platform assignments and exact coach positions. Also alerts will come on trains running late and those arriving at the stations. Commuters can also take platform tickets, book AC lounge, cloakroom and porter facility,” the official said.Railways already auctioned the work and Ernakulam-based Catalyst Collective Ltd has bagged contract.According to a railway study, almost 40% of commuters take tickets after arriving at station. Major stations like Ernakulam witness a daily passenger footfall of three lakhs. “So, a substantial number of commuters are availing tickets via counters and ATVM machines, a reason for the long queue during peak hours. To avail the new facility, commuters should download RailOne app in their mobile phones,” the official said.Railways aim to increase the share of digital ticketing to 50% by the end of this year through the initiative.Out of the lot of commuters availing tickets from stations, 25% are using RailOne app. Commuters can’t book tickets through the app once they are within 100m of railway stations. They need to scan QR codes on station premises in such cases.“However, booking a ticket upon reaching station often leaves commuters scrambling to locate specific QR codes at the last minute. The new dedicated zone fixes this by geofencing ticketing process,” the official said.