Title - Railway on a mission to cut queues

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Thiruvananthapuram division of Southern Railway is all set to embrace technology and outsourcing to end long queues at its 72 railway stations.

Thiruvananthapuram's divisional railway manager Rajesh Agrawal told STOI that more automatic ticket vending machines (ATVMs) and jansadharan ticket booking sevak (JTBS) counters and passenger reservation system (PRS) centres will be introduced in the state next year.

Last week, Union HRD minister Shashi Tharoor simultaneously commissioned 10 ATVMs at Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam Junction, Thrissur, Kottayam and Aluva railway stations. "We have already requested authorities to allot more ATVMs, JTBS and PRS centres. The Ernakulam-Kottayam rail doubling work too will be completed in 18 months," Agrawal said, adding that Palakkad will get ATVMs, JTBS and PRS centres soon.

"Next year, our target is to increase PRS centres by 25%. The PRS facility is available at 61 stations under the Thiruvananthapuram division that has 72 stations with unreserved ticketing system (UTS). However, this doesn't mean we are only focusing on ticketing facilities. The division has introduced 12 new trains, extended three services in the current year," said Agrawal.