India, Nov. 20 -- Central Railway (CR) has begun a pilot project at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) to ease the chronic queues at ticket counters by deploying roaming staff equipped with handheld devices to issue tickets on the spot.

Called Mobile UTS Sahayaks, the attendants walk through passenger holding areas, concourses and queues, issuing both long-distance and, eventually, suburban tickets through a mobile phone paired with a portable thermal printer, similar to the system used by conductors on BEST buses. Commuters can pay digitally or in cash.

The trial, which began earlier this month, currently has three such Sahayaks at CSMT, with CR planning to scale the number up to around 15. Officials said the idea was first te...