The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), an undertaking of Ministry of Railways is all set to attract the mobile travellers has launched a mobile website to expedite bookings through mobile phones. The Corporation has collaborated with mobile payment service providers to ensure mobile phone applications that can be utilized to book tickets. Some of these apps include NGPAY, ATOM and Paymate.
As per the statement issued by the IRCTC, it has been conformed that the service will be based on the web-services model with the intention of empower mobile phone operators to access the rail ticket reservation service online in conjunction with enquiry services akin to www.irctc.co.in.
Along with a statement it has been confirmed that a mobile phone user can easily make use of his existing user ID for www.irctc.co.in so as to make enquiries and book tickets using the mobile website. The wonderful application is also functional on most of the GPRS/browser-based phones. The minute a passenger books a railway ticket, he will receive a message comprising of complete details of ticket including journey date, PNR, train number, class and a lot more. The best part is that this virtual message would be treated similar to the print-out of e-ticket that is being used by tourists at present.
The Executive President Pune-Mumbai Pravasi Sangh, Mr. Hemant Tapale, has mentioned that the mobile web service would facilitate passengers because they would not require standing in queues and wasting for booking. Furthermore, passengers who want to go for last minute bookings will also benefit from this facility the most.