Latest news with #UnreservedTicketingSystem
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Hindustan Times
In a first, MMRC to promote line 3 through discounts and partnerships
Mumbai: The Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), operator of the city's underground Aqua line (metro line 3), wants to increase its ridership. To attract more passengers, the corporation might draw up promotional offers and provide discounts. In a first, MMRC to promote line 3 through discounts and partnerships The 33.5km Aqua line connecting south Mumbai to Aarey was divided into three stretches. The first, between Aarey-JVLR and Bandra Kurla Complex was inaugurated on October 7, 2024. The second, from Bandra Kurla Complex to Worli's Acharya Atre Chowk was inaugurated on May 9 and opened to the public the subsequent day. The final portion up to Cuffe Parade is scheduled for inauguration by end-August. The current 12.69 km stretch, which includes the recently opened 9.77 km section, sees a daily ridership of over 52,500 people per day during the weekdays. However, before the section from Bandra Kurla Complex to Worli's Acharya Atre Chowk was opened, the ridership per trip was at an abysmal average of 91 passengers per trip. With each train's maximum capacity being 2,500 people, the MMRC had projected 1.4 million passengers per day once the entire 33.5 km route was operational. The MMRC wants to appoint an agency to increase the number of passengers using the metro. Officials said that the line passes close to many important points such as work places, airport terminals, educational institutions, socialisation areas, which could help draw in more passengers. An MMRC official said the corporation had never before done such promotional activities, or approached private agencies and corporate offices for collaborations. 'Such a thing has not been done earlier. We want to give it a try,' he added. If such an agency is set up, it would identify major commercial buildings and developer associations in the vicinity of the Metro line 3 station. As per the MMRC, manned and unmanned kiosks will be set up, where QR codes will draw potential riders to the metro's mobile application. An MMRC official hinted that discount coupons for the first monthly pass might also be offered to help people transition for road and other transport to the city's latest metro. However, final decisions regarding the formation of an agency and the promotional plans are awaited this week. A document from the MMRC explained that the corporation had not ruled a potential collaboration with different online platforms, mobile wallets, as well as the IRCTC and the Indian Railways' UTS for The possibility of collaboration with different online platforms and mobile wallets including with IRCTC and Indian Railways' UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System) for booking tickets. The document added that the MMRC was also exploring tie-ups with Google Maps to integrate line 3 into its search results. For last mile connectivity, the corporation is also looking into intermediate public transport, private taxi operators, e-bike agencies, and bus operators. Such promotional activities are likely to be implemented only by the end of 2025, a few months after the entire 33.5km metro line 3 will be operational. The entire project's revised cost stands at a staggering ₹37,275.5 crore as compared to the initial projections of ₹23,136 crore. The spike in cost of ₹14,139.5 crore is primarily due to construction delays. The metro construction had faced resistance from environmentalists and nature lovers who challenged the MMRC's decision to axe trees in south Mumbai and build a car depot at Aarey Milk Colony.
India Today
01-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Railways rationalises basic fare for passenger train services, details
To streamline fare structures and ensure better financial sustainability, the Ministry of Railways has announced a rationalisation of basic fares for passenger train services, effective from July 1, 2025. The revised fares are based on the updated Passenger Fare Table issued by the Indian Railway Conference Association (IRCA).According to the new fare structure, there will be no increase in ordinary non-AC class fares for journeys up to 500 km. For longer distances, a nominal hike has been introduced: Rs 5 for distances between 501 km and 1500 km, Rs 10 for 1501 km to 2500 km, and Rs 15 for journeys between 2501 km and 3000 Mail and Express trains (non-AC classes), the basic fare has been increased by 1 paisa per kilometre across Second Class, Sleeper Class, and First Class categories. In AC classes, including AC Chair Car, AC 3-Tier, AC 2-Tier, and Executive Classes, fares will rise by 2 paisa per single journey fares and season tickets, for both suburban and non-suburban routes, remain unchanged. Reservation charges, superfast surcharges, and other ancillary fees also remain the same. GST will continue to be applied as per existing rules, and fare rounding principles will remain revised fare will apply to tickets booked on or after July 1, 2025. Tickets issued before this date will remain valid at the old rates, and no fare adjustment will be made. The Indian Railways is updating its Passenger Reservation System (PRS), Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), and manual ticketing systems to reflect the new fare rationalisation will also cover premium and special train services, including Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Mahamana, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express, AC Vistadome coaches, and Anubhuti Ministry of Railways has directed all Zonal Railways to update fare displays at stations and ensure a smooth implementation of the revised fares from July.- Ends
United News of India
17-06-2025
- Business
- United News of India
ECoR shifts PRS & UTS of Bhubaneswar Station to new building
Bhubaneswar, June 17 (UNI) As part of the ongoing redevelopment of Bhubaneswar Railway Station to world-class standards, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has initiated steps to improve passenger convenience and infrastructure. The Passenger Reservation System (PRS) and Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) counters, which were previously operating from a temporary shed, have now been shifted to the newly constructed station building on a temporary basis. According to ECoR sources, this arrangement ensures the uninterrupted availability of ticketing services while allowing construction work at the shed site to continue smoothly. The redevelopment of Bhubaneswar Railway Station is being undertaken under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. To further ease passenger movement, a newly constructed approach road from the Town Bus Stand/Temple side has been opened, providing better connectivity and hassle-free access to the station. A major milestone in this redevelopment effort is the opening of direct access to Platform No 1 through a newly built ground-level departure concourse, which is expected to reduce congestion and significantly improve passenger flow. The relocated PRS/UTS and enquiry counters at the under-construction station building offer more space and improved ease of movement for passengers, ECoR sources said. UNI DP SS
Time of India
16-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
25% surge in unreserved ticket sales in June: Rlys
1 2 3 4 5 6 Patna: An intensive ticket-checking drive conducted across the Danapur division of the East Central Railway (ECR) in June has begun to show results, leading to a 25% surge in ticket sales through the Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) in the month. According to Danapur divisional railway manager (DRM) Jayant Kumar Choudhary, the intensified ticket-checking drive conducted during June led to the penalisation of 51,644 passengers who were found travelling without valid tickets. The crackdown resulted in the collection of fines amounting to Rs 3.50 lakh, he said. "The objective behind the drive was not just to penalise offenders, but to instil a sense of responsibility among daily commuters and casual passengers. This has evidently led to an increase in the number of passengers purchasing proper tickets before boarding either long-distance or short-distance passenger trains in the division," the DRM said. Danapur senior divisional commercial manager (Senior DCM), Abhinav Siddarth, said on Monday the railways has already introduced the UTS mobile app and automatic ticket vending machines (ATVM) across major stations of the division to reduce congestion at general ticket booking counters. These digital facilities allow passengers to conveniently purchase unreserved tickets without standing in long queues, he said. Similar inspection drives will continue in the future, he said.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- The Hindu
CDTPA plea to Railways on issuance of quick ticket booking
The Cauvery Delta Train Passengers Association (CDTPA) has exhorted the Southern Railway to ensure quick current ticket issuance to the travellers during peak hours at the railway stations. Highlighting the plight of current ticket booking passengers, the Association secretary V. Jeevakumar said that the ticket booking counter staff insist for current ticket booking through online payment methods during both peak and lean hours of traffic. However, in districts like Thanjavur and other delta districts, commuters hail from rural areas and have yet to grasp the skill to operate the mobile applications quickly. Hence, on several occasions they were unable to catch the trains. At the same time, the delay to complete the process during morning and evening peak hours has a cascading effect on the passengers standing in the line who were aware of operating such mobile applications, he claimed. Such being the case, the Association called upon the Southern Railway to increase or earmark booking counters exclusively for cash booking during peak hours for the benefit of non-mobile application technology savvy commuters. He also exhorted the Indian Railways, through the Southern Railway, to weed out the problems faced by the uses of the mobile application - Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) – in booking tickets at the eleventh hour, particularly those undertaking short distance travels. At present, a mobile UTS user could not book unreserved ticket if he or she was 'in the vicinity' of the railway track which means the user was barred from using the application while in the station premises or even at a distance of 100 metres away from the railway track. If the railway authorities claim that such restriction was imposed to avoid ticket-less travelling by the commuter until he reaches his or her destination, the apprehension of the railways that a commuter might cheat the organisation could very well be surmounted with the help of real-time technology to assess the exact location of the passenger, whether the person was moving on the track, at the time of attempting to book a ticket and comparing the time of booking with the schedule of trains available with the railways. By including this verification process in the mobile application, the 'ticket-less travellers' could be discourage to embark on such travels, he added.
