Its inventor is late Poonamchand Lakhaji Mistry of Takhatgarh village, 100 kilometers from Jodhpur.

The innovation in 1961 covered a wide range of security aspects including protection against derailment or sabotage.

Mistry's nephew Mohan Mistry says, the innovations were put before the railway board.

"Meetings were held where engineers asked him about the idea. He gave them a month to understand the concept, after which, he gave up".

"After making some changes to the innovation he got it patented from the Government of India," Mistry said.
Mistry's inventions began in 1941 with the one anna platform ticket machine.

He came up with his own variant of the machine, which would reject worn out coins. Six of his machines were installed at Bombay Central and Dadar railway stations.

Museum

His house today is a kind of museum, which displays his innovations.

He did not get past Class 4 but never lacked in ideas. His inventions range from an apparatus for trapping thieves when they opening a safe, to a tea maker and a water pump operated by an animal.

His nephew also followed the footsteps of his uncle. Keeping him company, on his new journey, are memories of his uncle, in the form of these innovations.

Impressed with a cycle pump innovation, the Maharaja of Jodhpur gifted Mistry a pistol.
Now with the research centre on its way, Mistry's nephew hopes to improve on his uncle's innovations and also encourage new ideas.