Suresh Prabhu launches new IRCTC app to promote digital ticketing

IN A bid to promote ease of ticketing through digital transactions, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on January 10 released the new passenger mobile application named ‘IRCTC Rail Connect app’. “Currently e-ticketing system caters to over 10 lakh passengers daily (comprising 58 percent of total reserved passengers). And to increase the ease to users, a new Android-based mobile application for reserved booking IRCTC Rail Connect has been developed,” the minister said.
He inaugurated many non-fare initiatives and IRCTC mobile apps. Explaining about the new mobile IRCTC app, Prabhu said: “Rail Connect has been...
developed to bring the power of next generation e-ticketing system like high performance and enhanced security.” The new mobile-based application will replace the old existing IRCTC connect app.
The new app has features like 24/7 service with no time-based checks, synchronisation of mobile app with NGET (Next Generation e-Ticketing) for ticket booking, simple and easy user interface and supports general, ladies, Tatkal and Premium-Tatkal quota.
The new app also has other features like advanced security of self-assigned PIN (Personal identification number) to login without entering the username and password on each login.
The minister said that a new user registration and activation can now be directly done through the IRCTC Rail Connect.
The minister said the new application will be integrated with IRCTC e-wallet for faster and hassle free transactions.
“Through IRCTC Rail Connect app users can view and cancel old mobile app tickets also. The new app will provide payment gateway to over 40 banks to facilitate payments through net Banking, credit or debit cards and wallets like Paytm, PayU, Mobikwik,” Prabhu informed.
“The IRCTC Rail Connect will also be inter-connected with IRCTC AIR, Food on Track mobile apps to facilitate booking of air tickets and food through e-catering.”
IRCTC, the next generation e-ticketing system under the Railway Ministry, has recently tied up with the GSAs (General Sales Agents) of Bangladesh. The GSA scheme for registration of travel agents from outside India will facilitate booking of e-tickets of Indian Railways through IRCTC’s website www.irctc.co.in to the customers of the concerned countries.
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, is a subsidiary of the Indian Railways that handles the catering, tourism and online ticketing operations of the Indian railways. IRCTC clocked a turnover of Rs 1,506 crore in 2015-16 as compared to Rs 1,141 crore in 2014-15, registering a growth of 32 per cent. The PSU's net profit was pegged at Rs 189 crore during FY16 as against Rs 131 crore a year earlier. The internet ticketing contributed 43 per cent of IRCTC income by earning Rs 632.15 crore in FY16 as compared to Rs 308.12 crore in FY15 and emerged as the fastest growing e-commerce portal in India.