Railways keen to launch phone booking

PATNA: Railway ticket booking through cellphones is picking up fast these days, particularly in the metros. On an average about 800 to 1,000 tickets are being booked through cellphones daily in the metros.

Cellphone savvy people, particularly from metropolitan cities, have been using this new system without any hassle. The new system has almost ended travails of the long wait in the queue to procure railway computerized journey tickets. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC ) Ltd has taken the lead in introducing this system.

According to a Railway Board official, the newly developed ultra modrn system has not been introduced in Bihar and adjoining states. The railways is keen to create awareness about this new facility among passengers of the East Central Railway (ECR). he said.

Under this system, people booking railway tickets, however, need to have Java-enabled handsets to access internet services. This facility will enable people to book their journey tickets in advance. Delivery of the tickets could be had through couriers. But those having their own mail ID could get the booked tickets online also, sources said.

Since the use of cellphone has become common these days, people would find it convenient to book their journey tickets well in advance even from remote places. Besides, they could also seek information related to berth availability and journey plan through cellphones. The IRCTC has provided the facility of using credit cards and cash cards for booking tickets through cellphones, a Board official said.

According to sources, the IRCTC had introduced this system way back in 2003. But it could not click due to some technical reasons. Earlier, this system was brought into service through cellphones on voice mail and SMS only. But, it could not evoke good response from passengers using cellphones. Thus, the railways has decided to introduce the new system based on Java-enabled handsets as well as on all those sets having internet facilities, sources said.

A Board official admitted that the railways seems to be keen to ensure availability of railway journey tickets at doorsteps of the people across the country without charging any additional cost. The Board had approved this new cell system in December last year after getting mandatory clearance from the RBI, he said.