Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 3: The railway station in the city at Indrali has turned completely cashless. Therefore, people visiting the railway station need not have cash nor do they have to worry about small change. Those having credit or debit cards can transact everything including payment of parking fee, buying tea, booking prepaid auto and purchasing of books here.

The railway station here, which falls under Konkan Railway, has opened itself to cashless dealings for all transactions big and small. The advance booking counter had been provided with cashless facility two months ago. From Saturday July 1 onward, all the establishments here have been equipped with swiping machines and Pay TM mobile apps through which they can make purchase and sales for all amounts. Even the bicycle parking fee of two rupees and scooter parking fee of five rupees here can be paid through card.

Perhaps this railway station is the first among 65 railway stations located between Thokur here to Roha station in Maharashtra which fall under Konkan Railway Corporation limits. As far as annual revenue is concerned too, the station here tops the list. The per day turnover in the station here exceeds Rs 4 lac. Public relations officer of Konkan Railway, K Sudha Krishnamurthy, said that over 2,000 passengers make use of this station on a daily basis because of the presence of tourist spots and educational institutions.

S Vinay Kumar, Konkan railway zonal officer at Mangaluru, says that with the provision of swiping machines in all the stalls here, people will benefit. He said that because of installation problems, cashless facility in the general ticket counter here will become operational in a couple of days.