Bengaluru: Someone at BMRCL, which runs Namma Metro operations in the city, seems to lack a sense of urgency. Or else how would one explain the fact that the Ticket Vending Machines (TVMs), which could have helped a lot in reducing queues at metro stations, have not been operational though the Metro was launched seven years ago?
There is more bad news for commuters-they may have to wait another 3 months and until the opening of Metro Phase-2 to utilise the TVMs.
Did DeMO derail the TVMs too? Not likely for not many recall seeing the machines function prior to the note ban. A year after demonetization and change in currency note size, the reason given by BMRCL is that the machines need to be recalibrated as per the size of the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes. They also have to work on the recently introduced Rs 200 notes, a source said. The old Rs 1, 2 and 5 coins are also a problem as the machine's coin slot is unable to recognize them.
"Alterations have to be done to the TVMs. The department is considering doing it along with Phase-2 TVMs," a source said.
