Telangana: South Central Railway (SCR) has deployed staff wearing jackets with QR codes to manage passenger crowds during the upcoming Dussehra and Diwali travel period. The move comes as railways expect a surge in unreserved ticket bookings across major stations.
The jackets, fitted with retro-reflective QR codes, are being used in high-footfall areas such as concourses, entry and exit gates, and ticket counters. Passengers scanning the codes are directed to the UTS mobile application or Rail One app, allowing them to book unreserved tickets without standing in queues. SCR officials said staff will also assist passengers in using the apps, particularly those unfamiliar with mobile ticketing.
The initiative has been rolled out across all six divisions of SCR- Secunderabad, Kacheguda, Vijayawada, Guntur, Guntakal, Tirupati, and Nanded. According to railway officials, the UTS app allows booking of journey, platform, and season tickets, but only from a minimum distance of five meters away from station premises or railway tracks. This feature enables passengers to book tickets before reaching stations, reducing congestion during peak festive travel.
SCR has linked the initiative to the broader Digital India program, as the UTS app supports multiple digital payment modes such as UPI, internet banking, Paytm, and the Railways’ R-Wallet. Officials said the use of mobile ticketing is steadily rising, with the festival season expected to further push adoption.
By introducing QR-coded jackets, SCR aims to streamline unreserved ticket sales, cut waiting times at booking counters, and encourage greater use of digital platforms. The measure reflects the railway’s attempt to manage crowd flow with technology-driven solutions during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Also Read:
Govt to Set Up Over 500 Data Labs Nationwide Under IndiaAI Mission
Discussion about this post