Mumbai's CSMT station to get metro-style flap gates

Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) is leaving no stones turned for the safety of the citizens against the backdrop of coronavirus.

Recently, Mumbai local trains have been started for essential service workers, lawyers and women commuters at specified hours of the day. As more categories are being added, the number of commuters are also increasing during peak hour.

Considering the danger of the virus, in order increase discipline among the passengers along with crowd control Indian Railways will be installing flap-based gates for automatic entry into the station at Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. This will be in line with the flap gates installed at metro railway stations and this entrance will be constructed on an experimental basis at CSMT station. The flap-based gates will be installed for passengers who will be travelling in the long-distance trains.

Mumbai Metro stations have automatic entrances. These flap based gates have a QR code scanner and thermal scanning feature. Passengers will be required to place the QR code on the QR code scanner at the entry gate for validation of the ticket details. Passengers will be granted access will be permitted only after validation of both ticket details and temperature screening.

Currently, a QR code is generated for tickets booked through IRCTC website or PRS counters. This QR code carries all details on the ticket and can be accessed by passengers from the ticket generated in IRCTC App, from the PDF of the ticket or by clicking the URL in the SMS received upon booking the ticket.

 Central Railway says that this initiative will facilitate safe travel during COVID-19, promote social distancing between passengers and railway staff, help in detecting unauthorised access to station premises and rationalise human resources.

Earlier, Central Railway zone has launched an app called 'Check-in Master' for the ticket checking staff. The app will help in contactless checking of both PRS and UTS tickets by the railway staff and will also help in reducing the risk of getting infected with COVID-19.