PATNA: Procuring general railway tickets at major stations, including Patna Junction, will soon be hassle-free, thanks to a new initiative. Passengers will now be able to make payments for general tickets directly at the ticket windows through QR code scanning. This eliminates the need for cash transactions, ensuring a smoother experience for travelers.
Approximately 610 fare repeaters are set to be installed at key stations across the Danapur Division of East Central railways, including Patna Junction. This system is expected to be operational before the festival of Holi.
The facility is slated to be introduced before Holi, with preparations already underway. Sources suggest that the railways are gearing up to implement this system around March 23, with trial runs already initiated at some stations within the Danapur Division.
Upon installation of fare repeaters, passengers requesting tickets will see the fare amount and QR code displayed on the repeater screen. Passengers can then make payments by scanning the QR code using any payment option available. Presently, payments are facilitated through the UPI code, although this process can be time-consuming. Hence, a new system is being devised to streamline the payment process.
Moreover, to ease the ticketing process for passengers, various measures have been taken across the Danapur Division. Unreserved ticket system machines have been installed at all major stations, with over 72 stations in the Danapur Division equipped with Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs). Additionally, more than 250 booking agents have been deployed at various stations to facilitate ticket bookings.
The festive seasons, particularly Chhath and Holi, witness a surge in passenger traffic at Patna Junction. During these periods, the number of passengers triples, leading to long queues at the unreserved ticket counters. With the introduction of this new system, passengers can expect a significant reduction in waiting times and enjoy a hassle-free ticketing experience.
According to Virendra Kumar, Chief Public Relations Officer of the Danapur Division, efforts are being made to enhance passenger convenience by introducing QR code scanners at general ticket counters. The railway authorities have already made preparations for this initiative, aiming to simplify the ticketing process and eliminate the complexities associated with cash transactions.
