Mangaluru, July 23, 2015: The Southern Railway has installed two Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVM) at Mangalore Central Railway Station which will dispense season, platform and unreserved railway tickets. Henceforth there is no need for travellers to stand in queues to buy unreserved tickets. All they have to do so is 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. Of this amount, Rs 50 is refundable security deposit, while the balance can be used to purchase tickets. Though travellers can top up the card upto Rs 5000, the same is valid only for six months.
Concessional tickets however 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.
The smart card needs to be surrendered if one wants to get a refund. In such a case, a fee of Rs 10 would be deducted towards clerical expenses.
As many are unaware of the new facility, a retired employee has been appointed to guide travellers to buy tickets through ATVM.