Commuters on the Mumbai suburban railway section might soon be able to use debit and credit cards for operating the Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) installed at stations. The Center of Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has completed the changes required for the software and it is up to the respective railways to make the changes in the hardware.

“We have completed our trials and changes the software required. A commuter will be able to purchase a ticket without having to use a smart card,” Uday Bobhate, General Manager CRIS, said.

Senior railway officials said that they were working towards implementing the system but said certain key issues remain unresolved. “We need to finalise who will take the responsibility if a transaction fails as well as systems for refunding a commuter in such a scenario,” a senior official said. He said ATVMs are at a risk of being vandalised if commuters were denied tickets. “We are in the process of testing the new system. We have communicated with the Railway Board and CRIS about the potential issues that could arise after we implement it,” said Chief Public Relations Officer, Western Railway, Ravinder Bhakar, said

The Mumbai Division of CR has 602 ATVMs across stations out of which 318 are new, while WR’s Mumbai Division has 370 ATVMs. Senior railway official said that not all ATVMs will be given this option and the modifications will be made only at one or two of them. “The option will be first tried out in major stations since there are higher number of ATVMs available. So even if one ATVM develops a snag, it won’t affect passengers,” a senior railway official said.

ATVMs account for 20% of tickets booked on the suburban network. “Our percentage has increased since we have introduced additional ATVMs in the past six months. The introduction of debit and credit cards is to provide another option to commuters,” a CR official said. CR is also creating self-ticketing zones under their non-fare revenue, which will comprise ATVMs.