For the first time, Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) were introduced at the Vijayawada Railway Station, sparing the commuters from going through the ordeal spending hours in long queue lines at the ticket counters.

On Wednesday, eight such ATVMs were set up in Vijayawada while three each were installed at Rajahmundry, Tenali and Nellore railway stations. Vijayawada DRM Ashok Kumar inaugurated them.

At Vijayawada station, four ATVMs have been kept at the main concourse of the main booking office, two each at the east entrance concourse and south entrance concourse.

The ATVMs will enable the people to purchase unreserved tickets and platform tickets on their own or with the help of the facilitator. All one needs to do to avail the service is purchase a smart card costing Rs50 from the railway general ticket counter and top-up with amount anywhere between Rs100 to Rs5,000. The card will be valid for one one year. Moreover, for every recharge/topping up, the passenger will get a discount of Rs5 per cent on the fare up to 150 km.

For operating the ATVMs, the smart card has to be kept on the card reader provided on the machine and a map will be displayed. The station has to be selected by tapping on the touch screen. Those who find it difficult to locate and select, can simply type the destination time in the space provided. Once the station is selected, the class, age and the number of passengers have to be specified. After all the data is entered, a ticket will be printed.

Ashok Kumar said it will greatly reduce waiting time and be very useful during rush hour.