Contactless counters, new technology at Prayagraj railway station

In order to encourage contactless ticket checking to control the spread of Coronavirus, the North Central Railway authorities have reportedly begun an airport-like boarding facility at Prayagraj railway station for the first time in its history.

Ajit Kumar Singh, CPRO, North Central Railway, told a leading news website that the passengers reaching the railway station are ushered to a boarding hall having four new check-in counters. These are fully contactless counters considering the safety of passengers.
Webcam linked to a computer is used for checking passenger’s ID proof and train tickets. In addition, microphone and speakers have been installed on both sides of the check-in counters separated through glass partition wall to allow easy contactless communication.

Through the newly implemented technology, the railways can also identify vacant berths in any train, which are then passed on to next railway station for convenient availability of berth to the passengers.
Passengers are also undergoing thermal screening at the entry gate of the station. Also, the railway officials are experimenting with new techniques to handle passengers while following physical distancing measures.

A system of QR code based train ticket scanning has also been put to use at the Prayagraj Junction railway station from June 1.