|
CMC's
unreserved ticketing solution, ARTS, was
first implemented in Bangalore in 1993.
Since then, more than 2,000 systems have
been deployed in the Indian Railways at
over 500 locations. The advanced railway
ticketing system (ARTS) is an embedded system
which handles all the functions of unreserved
ticketing.
The
basic operations involved are ticketing,
auditing and communication with a central
server. All types of tickets (journey,
season, platform) can be issued. Cancellation
of these tickets is also possible. All
types of audit reports can be generated
by the system. ARTS also handles automatic
route generation and fare computation.
Security issues have been given priority
in developing the system.
ARTS
is a special-purpose ticketing terminal,
known as an SPTM, where the operator can
issue various types of unreserved tickets
for passengers. ARTS terminals are connected
to a centralised accounting and reporting
system (CARS) for generation of MIS and
accounting reports.
Basic
functional specifications
|
|
Issues
all classes of tickets for all types
of trains |
|
|
Issues
various types of tickets; outward,
return, all categories of season tickets
(including free, student, vendor tickets,
advance tickets, retiring room tickets) |
|
|
Issues
money receipts and luggage receipts |
|
|
Issues
all categories of concessional tickets
and tickets against vouchers, permissible
under defined railway rules |
An
enhanced version of ARTS, with more emphasis
laid on security, ruggedness and easy
maintainability, is also being rolled
out.
All
the client systems (in a local area network)
are connected to the central server placed
in the zonal headquarters for data transfer.
The ARTS server (a high-end server and
central server) generates all kinds of
MIS-related reports on a daily, periodic
and monthly basis. The ARTS client software
has four different modules; administration
module, ticketing module, communications
module and auditing module. The ARTS server
software uses Oracle to store data. The
application is written in Java to enable
platform independence.
Benefits
of ARTS
|
|
Easy
adaptability and quick implementation
of new features |
|
|
The
system can retain a minimum of one
week's transaction data without transfer
to server. This can be extended to
a month by enhancing the flash memory |
|
|
There
is no limit on the number of routes
or stations |
|
|
The
ticketing counters can become truly
universal |
|
|
The
system will automatically generate
a log file whenever it gets initialised
for auditing purposes |
|
|
Ticketing
systems can be interfaced with external
devices like coin-vending machines,
smart cards, etc., for future needs |
|
|
Centralised
accounting at the zonal level |
|
|
Continuous
remote monitoring and health checking |
|
|
Easy
maintenance owing to remote diagnostics |
|
|
The
highest security is provided in
the system at various levels:
|
|
Proper
stock management of ticket rolls |
|
|
Reliable
and faster transfer of data
from client to server and vice
versa |
|
|
Application
version maintenance is controlled
and log files can be generated
for surveillance purposes |
|
|
Audit
trails of clients can be made
available as and when required |
|
|
|
Hot
keys are provided for speedy and fast
transaction operations |
|
|
In
future, third party agents outside
railway stations can be allowed to
sell tickets, from ATM outlets or
otherwise, by extending the scope
of the system |
|
|
The
benefits of automated ticketing can
be extended equally to remote and
small stations. |
Read
more.....
|
