How will you react when you see that the Queue at reservation counter is a mile long although you managed to reach there are by 7:30 AM thinking you will be the first in line, or the exorbitant money demanded by travel agents to get your ticket booked, for which you are not sure if the passenger list will be genuine or not.
You will have multiple thoughts running in mind while being sandwiched in line, primary ones being that:
1. If the seats will be available till you reach the counter or not???
2. Hell….. Today also I will be late for office (think of a nice alibi for Boss!!!)
Cheer up guys ………
No more body building at reservation counter Queues, by pushing and getting pushed up, no more time killing and no more wastage of money (to agents).
Indian railways have really taken a step forward and have left that image of government organization known for all the mismanagement, and snail pace work. Have you checked the online rail ticket booking site ( http://www.irctc.co.in).
Well let me tell you about this innovative step taken by Indian railways.
This website ( http://www.irctc.co.in) basically maintained by Indian Rail Catering and Tourism Corporation is a step forward to provide convenience to Rail passengers and reduce the ever increasing work load on Passenger Reservation System clerks.
Booking rail ticket on this website is as simple as ordering a pizza on phone, you just need an online payment tool (credit card/internet banking account etc…).
Now how the whole procedure works:
1. First time users have to register by choosing a unique username (more simple than registering a new e-mail account).
2. Once registered and logged in (you will be in “Plan My Travel” page) you can check the different trains availability based on source and destination stations. Note: you will have to input that cryptic station codes like NDLS for New Delhi, although if you don’t know then there is a small search button (not marked so) in front of text boxes for source and destination station.
3. You can check the availably status of as many trains as you want (unlike being in line where the counter clerk will literally bark on you after 3 enquiries...)
4. You can check the fare, route of train, departure and arrival times at source, intermediate, destination stations for selected train.
5. Once you are satisfied you can proceed with “Book ticket” option for selected train.
6. Here you will be getting the electronic form that will have almost same look as a printed form. You have to fill the relevant details of passengers (Name, Age, sex, seat choice etc…) and some more details like, option of delivery of ticket (courier/ self pick up) , your delivery address will be copied from your registered profile, if you want you can change it here itself.
7. Once filled you will be taken to Payment options.
8. Here you will need either credit card or internet banking account.
9. You can choose what ever option you have and you will land up at that bank’s login page (for net banking case) or at payment gateway page where you will have to fill your particulars (user id/ password or CC details)
10. Once the payment is authorized you will automatically return to irctc page and your ticket booking process is complete.
Now how you receive the ticket, well at the time of booking you choose the option of getting the ticket either by courier (better option if planning in advance), or you can pick it from pre defined location of Indian rail if there is not enough time.
The story till yet saves you from the tortures of Queue at counter and gets you the same printed Rail ticket at door step in 24-48 hours (in most cases in 24 hrs..).
This was i-ticket as irctc calls it.
Time to upgrade guys, there are still better options left:
You have to follow the same above steps but can get yourself an e-ticket. That is even a step further to i-ticket.
1. It can be printed on your printer itself instantly (no courier involved…), you will need government approved id like: PAN card, DL, voter id card etc….
2. You have the flexibility to book till chart preparation time (practically till 3-4 hrs before departure of train)
3. You pay lesser service charges as compared to i-ticket (although I think service charges for i-ticket should be nil as we are saving the money of courier and stationary of Indian Rail)
4. You need not be at your address to collect the ticket (i-ticket case)
5. if need be you can also cancel it online (the only option for cancellation before chart preparation)
But there is one drawback to this extra convenience (e-ticket option), you can book e-ticket only if status is confirmed/RAC, if it is waitlisted then you can go back to i-ticket option or re plan your travel. This I guess is to avoid the fraud issues………..
I myself find e-ticket very convenient as if you want you can cancel it online itself (again great convenience……) and it’s services charges are less too (!!!)
Now coming to charges:
For i-ticket it will vary from Rs. 40/- to Rs 60/- per ticket based on class (sleeper to AC), for e-ticket it is Rs. 25 to Rs 40/- per ticket based on class (sleeper to AC). I think it is negligible as compared to convenience that is being offered. You will surely spend more than that amount in commuting to reservation centers if you live in a descent sized city.
So I don’t find myself any more in the line at reservation centers and get it booked in cool comfort of my home.
Indian Railways has surely changed the way we think of government organizations.
Should I say?
“Bolo Lalooo bhaiya ki Jai….”
Because the credit of e-ticking facility goes to him for sure.
Please feel free to litter the comments section.. :)
…..Deepak…..