Now thermal printers at railway stations

By Atiya Firdos

This quick, secure and efficient ticketing system to be expanded citywide soon

The Bengaluru Railway Division has introduced thermal printers at key railway stations to improve ticketing efficiency and prevent fraud. The system, launched on Sunday, includes the installation of two printers at KSR Bengaluru City station, which according to sources manages around 12,000 to 13,000 unreserved tickets daily.

Similar printers have been deployed at other major stations, including Yeshwantpur, KR Puram, and Sir M Visvesvaraya Terminal (SMVT), which collectively see footfalls of nearly a lakh passengers daily. These stations are among the busiest in the city, making the initiative a significant step toward enhancing convenience for travellers.

How does it help?
A standout feature of these thermal-printed tickets is that they come with unique QR codes, allowing ticket examiners to verify their authenticity using a specialised app. This feature minimises the risk of duplication and fraud. Additionally, thermal printers eliminate the need for ribbon cartridges, resulting in cost savings and reduced maintenance requirements.

These printers also enhance ticketing efficiency by cutting printing time from 20 seconds with traditional dot matrix printers to just 2 seconds. The improved clarity eliminates issues like printing errors caused by ink smudging. The QR code adds a layer of security, enabling Traveling Ticket Examiners (TTEs) to validate tickets using handheld devices, helping to prevent fraud such as ticket rewriting or tampering, a problem that has been seen in at least four cases reported at SMVT since August, officials noted.

“The inclusion of QR codes on thermal-printed tickets ensures greater security. With handheld devices, TTEs can quickly scan and verify the authenticity of tickets, effectively curbing duplication and fraud,” said Thrinethra KR, Divisional Commercial Manager (DCM), Bengaluru.

The inclusion of QR codes on thermal-printed tickets ensures greater security. TTEs can quickly scan and verify authenticity of tickets–Thrinethra KR, DCM, Bengaluru

Reduces passenger’s waiting time

With daily footfalls exceeding one lakh at KSR Bengaluru and Yeshwantpur stations and over 50,000 at KR Puram and SMVT, the introduction of thermal printers is set to benefit a large number of passengers. These printers are cost-effective to maintain and have greatly reduced passenger waiting times.

“This is a trial initiative implemented at key stations, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The printers are cost-effective to maintain and have significantly reduced passenger waiting times. We plan to extend this facility to other stations within the next month,” added Thrinethra, enabling future of efficient ticketing.