HI-TECH
TICKET SYSTEM
 The
hi-tech Ticket Issuing Machines (TIMs) system introduced
by Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation
(APSRTC) in its Metroliner services added more glamour
to the Tech-savvy Hyderabad city. With this new
development, the driver will issue tickets generated through
the machine and collects the money from the passengers.
The APSRTC has used the TIMs on long-distance services
on Bangalore and Vijayawada and the success
prompted the authorities to go in for the same system
in the city too.
 Mr.
R.P. Singh, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, APSRTC
launched the new machines in a grand function held recently
at Sanjeeva Reddy Nagar bus stop. At present the TIM system
is being operated on the Secunderabad-Patancheru route
(no.226) and is available in only 10 vehicles. According
to APSRTC regional manager Ch. Rameswara Rao, "the
machine will be fixed near the driver's seat. The stages
on the route and respective fares would be fed to the
machine". For example, if a passenger boards
the bus at stage number four and intends to get down at
10, the driver will press the buttons 4 and 10. A ticket
will come out and the corresponding fare will be displayed
on the machine, for which the money will be collected
by the driver.
 "The
corporation has completed trial runs of the new scheme
and about 40 drivers have been trained in handling the
TIMs. The drivers will be paid an additional sum of Rs.
500 per month," Rameswara Rao said. The machines,
costing Rs. 20,000 a piece, are being manufactured by
the Electronics Corporation of India Limited
and two other private firms. "Technical experts
from these companies will examine the functioning of TIMs
on a weekly basis," said Rameswara Rao. "I
can handle the bus alone and by practice I think I can
issue the tickets while driving it too," said
Sambasiva Rao, the driver who holds the distinction
of driving the first bus with TIM system.
Inspite of the hi-tech move by the government, the launching
of TIMs has also been opposed by many APSRTC trade unions
saying that the latest development is the begining of
end for conductors. Besides, helping the withdrawal of
the conductors in a phased manner, the facility is expected
to be cost effective to the state-run corporation. "One
should dispel the fears about loss of jobs to conductors
following the introduction of TIMs," sought Mr.
Singh.
 MR.
Singh also launched newly designed hi-tech buses on the
Bangalore sector from the BHEL and Miyapur bus stations.
Four such vehicles of the 'Sutlej' company are to be run
on this route. The buses from Miyapur will leave at 5
p.m.. In the return direction they will leave Bangalore
at 6.30 p.m. They will depart at BHEL at 7.45 p.m. and
at Bangalore at 8.30 p.m.
The passengers who wish to travel by these buses to Bangalore
could procure tickets from the authorised reservation
counters at Ameerpet (near Chermas, Phone: 6621465), Balanagar
(City bus stop, Phone: 3771740), BHEL (near Keerthi Mahal
Phone: 3025697), Bharatnagar (Moosapet, Phone: 381 3681),
Kukatpally (KPHB main road, Phone: 306 9619), S.R. Nagar
(near bus stop, Phone: 3735013), Sanathnagar (near police
station, Phone: 371 9174), Lakdikapul (near Rajdoot Hotel,
Phone: 321 2108), Miyapur (Miyapur Crossroads, Phone:
304 3699) and Motinagar (Motinagar Crossroads, Phone:
383 1460).
A press release issued by the APSRTC stated that its operations
on the inter-State routes had been extended. The services
within the State were being connected to important colonies
like A.S. Raonagar, Safilguda, Gachibowli and BHEL,
besides Mahatma Gandhi and Jubilee Bus Stations.
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Krishna Chaitanya Karanam
Photographs
by: Srinivas Setty
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