Indian Rail : Book Your ticket on your Cell

Indian Railway is now all set to launch a new Ticket Reservation System which shall be operative through the Cell Phones. This is for the very first time in INDIA when a passenger will be able to book his tickets through Cell Phones.

According to the news the new scheme has been approved by the Railway Board and RBI has also given mandatory clearance for the same. It is considered that this scheme will be helpful for the passengers in order to get rid from the grip of booking agents or pimps. Officials of Railway Board had assured that necessary measures has been taken by making certain necessary modifications in the software for the prevention from misuse of it. It is said that this scheme will be proved simple for the Cell Phone users. However, a customer will have to download an application to book a journey ticket through his/her Cell Phone. One more limitation of the scheme is that it will not work on any ordinary Cell Phone, a Java enabled handset will be required to book tickets under this scheme.

Moreover, the system is same as e-ticket booking, though initiatives has been taken to make the project viable by setting up kiosks at different locations to help the customers. One may opt for delivery of ticket by a courier or those having e-mail id may get the same online also. According to an IRCTC source the passenger will receive a reservation message immediately after booking of the tickets with full details of the ticket including PNR No, Train No, Date of Journey, Class of Journey and other relevant details. This message shall be treated as good as the printout of e-ticket, popularly known as electronic reservation slip (ERSs).

Basically, two non-internet systems had been developed by IRCTC which can be used with even simple feature phones. Tickets can be booked through a simple text messaging based facility or a menu based dialing service. It would be any time anywhere service and the bookings shall be done in a secure manner. Main advantage of this system is that there would be no need to log on to internet or to stand for hours in a queue at reservation counters. 

If you wish to know more about the scheme please visit the IRCTC link - https://www.irctc.co.in/beta_htmls/SMS_USSD.html

Perhaps, its time to say goodbye to old counter paper tickets. Though, it would be too early to predict the benefits of new system. Hope, waiting in a queue for getting a reserved ticket shall be a story of older days.