From next week, the passengers of Inter-city and short-distance rail will be able to purchase tickets from Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs). For the first time in the country, 15 ticket vending machines have been installed at various railway stations including the Airport Station and Kamlapur Station to facilitate quick ticketing of passengers.
On Monday, 22 April, an automatic Ticket Vending Machine has been installed at Dhaka (Kamlapur) railway station. The matter is confirmed by the Station Manager Masud Sarwar.
He said that two automatic ticket vending machines have been installed at Kamlapur Station. A total of four vending machines will be installed. Vending machines will be installed at 21 stations including Dhaka and Chattogram.
Earlier on April 16, according to a circular signed by the TC Deputy Director of Bangladesh Railway Md. Ansar Ali, the installation of 15 ticket vending machines, 10 service kiosks and 60 giant screen displays in Bangladesh Railways has been approved by the authorities. Out of the 60 giant screen displays, 31 will be installed in the eastern region and 29 in the western region of Bangladesh Railway.
According to the sources, four ticket vending machines (TVM) have already been installed at Kamlapur station, two at airport station, two at Chattogram station, one at Sylhet station, one at Cox’s Bazar station, two at Rajshahi station, one at Khulna station, one at Bir Muktijoddha Sirajul Islam station and one at Rangpur station.
As learnt from the Railway Operations Department, Shohoz.com will be responsible for the maintenance of these modern machines. Through this, passengers can easily buy their own tickets. However, the charge (Tk. 20) which paid for buying the tickets online will also apply for buying the tickets from the vending machines. Passengers can purchase tickets through internet and mobile banking apps as well.
Regarding the launch of this service, the Director General of Bangladesh Railway, Sardar Shahadat Ali told the media that measures are being taken to prevent ticketless passengers on the train and to ensure immediate service to passengers traveling by train. We initially installed 15 machines. This vending machine will be installed in all online-based stations of the country gradually.
Passengers can easily buy their tickets from the machine within 15 to 60 minutes of the journey. He also said that the concerned railway employees will assist the passengers in this regard.
Passengers have welcomed this initiative of the Railways, but the passengers have expressed their displeasure over the extra charge of Tk. 20 to buy tickets.
There is a lot of discussion about this issue on social media. Posting a photo of TVM in the Bangladesh Railway Fans Forum group, one Junaid Hossain Probal wrote, ‘What is the benefit of this machine, if someone could explain. If I have to pay an additional charge of Tk. 20 to buy tickets in this machine, then we can buy tickets sitting at home. Why shall we go to the station?’
He further wrote, ‘And if you have to go to the station yourself, then why shall you buy tickets on this machine? We can buy tickets from the counter next to us paying 20 taka less. I think people would have benefited from this machine, if there was no extra charge to purchase tickets through this machine. This initiative is nothing but showing off.’