VIJAYAWADA: In a bid to create awareness among passengers on the cashless transactions, the South Central Railway (SCR) has launched Digi-Pay Station campaign at Vijayawada, Guntur and Kakinada railway stations on Saturday. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu launched the facility via remote video link from New Delhi.
Addressing a press conference here, SCR Vijayawada divisional manager Ashok Kumar said the idea behind Digi-Pay Station campaign is to encourage passengers to go for digital transactions for any requirements like ticket booking, payments towards parking fee, retiring room, cloak room and other facilities, he said. Vijayawada, Guntur and Kakinada railway stations are selected for the SCR’s Digi-Pay Station campaign along with eight other stations in the division, he added.
As many as 82 e-PoS devices and 11 automatic ticket vending machines were installed at various platforms in Vijayawada station. Due to ignorance, many passengers are still not purchasing tickets from automatic ticket vending machines set up on the railway station premises. The SCR has also deployed staff for technical assistance near the ticket vending machines, he said and added that in next phase, Rajamahendravaram railway station will be also transformed into a digital payment-enabled station.
In Hyderabad, paperless mobile tickets are being under circulation and the same will be replicated shortly in the Vijayawada station. In this regard, every stall will display the posters and banners highlighting the usage of digital payments. Announcements and scrollings will be also given at regular intervals to create awareness among passengers on cashless transactions, he said.
Later, the DRM along with other SCR officials launched a ‘Signature Campaign’ on platform number 1 in the railway station. The campaign regarding digital payment initiative evoked good response from citizens and rail users. Selfie boards propagating Vijayawada as Digi-Pay Station also attracted people, particularly the youth. Ashok Kumar also visited the stalls on the platform and purchased a ticket through cashless transaction.