MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI BANDARU DATTATRAYA)
(a) & (b): To reduce the queue length at the booking
counters for issue of card tickets, Coupon Validating
Machines (CVMs) were installed on Western Railway as a pilot
project after conducting feasibility and usability survey.
Based on the feedback received from the passengers of
Western Railway, it was later on extended to Central
Railway.
(c): Some machines do intermittently fail. On such
occasions, passengers get the coupons manually stamped from
the booking counter for which they get priority.
(d): The major reasons for the failure are :-
(i) Mechanical fault like motoring failure, heading failure.
(ii) Jamming up of papers due to interference by urchins.
(iii) Power failure/fluctuation making the display faulty.
Some of the Coupon Validating Machines are under
warranty and Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC) for rest of
the machines has been given to the original equipment
manufacturer company. The details of cost of machines,
maintenance contract charges, number of coupon booklets sold
and average earnings on Central and Western Railways are as
under:-
Central Railway: (Rs. in lakhs)
Month Daily average Daily average Coupon booklet earnings. sold.
November’02 7,500 3.14
December’02 11,114 2.61
January’03 7,124 1.91
Western Railway: (Rs. in lakhs)
Month Daily average Daily average Coupon booklet earnings.
November’02 4,523 2.13
December’02 4,604 2.16
January’03 3,729 1.76
Cost of one machine : Approximately Rs.29500/.
Maintenance contract charges : Approximately Rs.5000 per year per machine.
(e): The working of CVMs is being monitored on day-to-
day basis at various levels. On account of faulty
maintenance, penalty has been imposed on the manufacturer
company to whom AMC has been given.
