The `virtual queue’ system for holy darshan at Lord Ayyappa Temple at Sabarimala has not only helped the Kerala police to handle the crowd but also has eased things for devotees. This crowd management programme which involves virtual queue systems while the devotees need to register their names in the portal and get a Q Coupon.
In a recent revelation, the Kerala government is ramping up to implement this queue system at wine shops that are witnessing throng in peak times. Kerala Startup Mission has invited applications from start-ups to come up with mechanisms to handle virtual queues at outlets which sell Indian-made foreign liquor (IMFL), beer and wine.
Reportedly, the state government has been taking inputs from the tenders and the cyber division of state police to arrive at a suitable plan. If everything goes as per plan, this system will be implemented in 1,256 shops which sell liquor in the state. The system will work on smartphones as well as feature phones. While smartphone users will have to install an app, the feature phones will be working on an SMS system where users can connect to a particular number.
A dedicated local staff needs to manage the system from the shop. Meanwhile, Kerala, one of the states which draw the majority of the revenues from liquor sales apart from tourism has been keeping a safe distance from the proposal of home delivery of liquor, unlike Punjab and Chattisgarh.
