Via to set up 500 travel kiosks across India

Bangalore-based travel company Via (formerly 'FlightRaja'), which recently received $5 million funding from NEA Indo-US Ventures, plans to expand operations across the country in the next 10-12 months.

The company inaugurated an automated ticket vending machine at Garuda Mall here recently. Customers can book flight and bus tickets on the spot. Via has tied up with all the domestic airlines as well as 100 private bus operators across the country to offer the service.

According to Via director Amit Aggarwal, the company was conducting a pilot project with the state transport corporations of Punjab and Haryana, and was in "advanced stages of discussions" with Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. Customers can also book package tours at these kiosks.

Each of these machines costs about a lakh to manufacture, and Via plans to roll out 500-600 more such machines across the country. The company is mulling partnering third-party service providers under a franchisee model, to set up and run the kiosks.

Under the existing business model, Via collects a commission from the airlines and bus operators and does not charge the customers for use of the kiosk.

Aggarwal added: "The booking is done in real time at no extra cost to the customer. They can select seats, the pick-up point and mode of payment. The machine will generate an e-ticket which can be used to board the bus at the selected pick-up point."

Customers can pay through credit card or by cash, to the person manning the kiosk.