Three more railway stations in Bengaluru to have thermal printers for unreserved tickets

Each ticket issued through thermal printers will feature a unique QR code, enabling Traveling Ticket Examiners (TTEs) to verify its authenticity using a specially developed mobile application.

In a significant step to curb ticket fraud and improve efficiency, the Bengaluru Railway Division is set to deploy thermal printers at various stations in the city. These advanced printers will replace the older dot matrix models, enhancing ticketing speed and security.

Each ticket issued through thermal printers will feature a unique QR code, enabling Traveling Ticket Examiners (TTEs) to verify its authenticity using a specially developed mobile application. According to railway officials, this measure is aimed at eliminating instances of counterfeit unreserved tickets, which has been a growing concern in various parts of the country.

A South Western Railway (SWR) official said that several cases of duplicate unreserved tickets using printing machines have been reported across the country. “The adoption of thermal printers ensures tickets cannot be duplicated, offering a foolproof solution,” he said.

According to officials, two thermal printers have already been installed at the main entrance counters of KSR Bengaluru City station to kickstart the initiative. Plans are underway to set up one printer each at K.R. Puram, Sir M. Visvesvaraya Terminal, and Yesvantpur stations.

The switch to thermal printers is expected to reduce the time taken to issue tickets significantly. While the current dot matrix printers require around 20 seconds to print a ticket, thermal printers can complete the process in just three seconds. “This improvement is anticipated to expedite ticket issuance, benefiting commuters and reducing queues at ticket counters,” officials said.

Another official revealed that the initiative aligns with Railway Board directives mandating the exclusive procurement of thermal printers for Unreserved Ticketing Systems (UTS). No new dot matrix printers will be acquired; thermal printers will replace them across all UTS counters.

“In addition to speed and security, the new printers offer quieter operation compared to the noisy dot matrix models. Thermal printing technology, which operates through heat generation, is already in use for tickets issued via Automated Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs),” official added.

Published - December 23, 2024 07:16 pm IST