Ticketing Tech Troubles: Vending Machines Underused at Rail Stations
Bangladesh Railway has installed 15 ticket vending machines (TVMs) across the country to allow passengers to purchase tickets directly online without waiting in long queues at station counters. Among these, four machines have been set up at Kamalapur Railway Station, two at Airport Station, two at Chattogram Station, and one each at Sylhet, Cox’s Bazar, Rajshahi (two units), Khulna, Bir Muktijoddha Sirajul Islam, and Rangpur stations.
However, the vending machines and nearby railway service kiosks operated by Shohoz.com appear to be largely neglected by passengers. Despite the machines being available and functional, counters continue to witness long lines, while the TVMs remain idle. Most travelers show little interest in using the machines.
To assist passengers in using the technology, each station is equipped with a railway service kiosk run by Shohoz.com. Many passengers complete registration there using their national ID and mobile number. Yet, even after registration, most prefer buying tickets at the counter.
Md. Shihab, a staff member at Shohoz.com stationed at Kamalapur Railway Station’s registration booth, explained, “We help those passengers who are not yet registered. But even after registering, they go to the counter to buy tickets. Many simply don’t want to purchase tickets from the vending machine. As a result, we see the booth vacant while the counters remain crowded.”
Dhaka Divisional Railway Manager Mohammad Mohiuddin Arif commented, “We installed the vending machines for the convenience of the passengers. However, due to a lack of familiarity, people are reluctant to use them even when the booths are empty. The railway authority is now considering raising awareness among passengers.”
Passengers say they are unfamiliar with the system and have never used such machines before. “We don’t know how to buy tickets from the machines,” said one commuter. “There’s a fear that something might go wrong, like a ghost in the machine.”
Technology experts believe that offering incentives for using vending machines could encourage more people to adopt the system. Lowering the ticket price for online purchases might also help reduce offline congestion.
