The South East Central Railway (SECR) will install a total of 67 Automated Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) and Coin Operated Ticket Vending Machines in 45 railway stations, officials informed.
Currently 38 stations have the facility of ATVMs. In Bilaspur division, 16 railway stations have 29 ATVMs and Coin Operated Ticket Vending Machines.
In Raipur division, 23 ATVMs will be established in 20 railway stations by March 31, 2019.
SECR will also be seeking help for promoting new ideas and concepts related to passenger convenience in order to generate non fare revenue, officials informed.
The Union Ministry of Railways last year had also decided it would take up development of Multi Functional Complexes (MFCs) at six Railway Stations in Chhattisgarh.
They are-- Raipur, Bilaspur, Bhilai, Durg, Korba and Raigarh, officials stated.
As a part of Railway’s commitment to upgrade/augment passenger amenities at Railway Stations on continuous basis, development of Multi Functional Complexes (MFCs) at Railway Stations was first announced in Railway Budget 2009-10 to provide rail user facilities like Shopping, Food Stalls & Restaurants, Book Stalls, PCOs/STD/ ISD/FAX Booths, Medicine & Variety Stores, Budget Hotels (subject to viability), parking, etc.
Initially, development of MFCs was assigned to Railway Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) who develop MFCs with their own equity and to Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) who develop MFCs through private sector participation. Total expenditure incurred by PSUs on construction of MFCs since beginning is approximately Rs 109 crore. No expenditure is incurred by RLDA for developing MFCs.
Subsequently, some of the MFCs were assigned to Zonal Railways. Works for developing MFCs by Zonal Railways are sanctioned under Plan Head – ‘Passenger Amenities’.