Electronic Ticket in Indian Railway

This is a kind of ticket introduced recently in the Indian Railways solely to tap the vast potential of internet and the ongoing information revolution in India.  Day by day the internet users have been increasing and it is this fact that has led Indian Railways to introduce such a ticket.  This ticket has got a bright future as the workaholic cultures of the people prohibit them to present themselves in the already queued PRS counters (Public Reservation System).  Today it is but a time taking affair to purchase a ticket at the usual conventional counters.  Further, if you are not sure of your trains and want someone to guide regarding Timing, Fare, Train Numbers and Reservation Availability Status then there are less possibilities of getting such help instantly.  The Reservation clerks happen to be so overloaded with their jobs that they usually leave the inquiry related jobs to the passengers themselves.  And the passengers rush to a Wheeler Book Stall to buy a Train Time Table either local or an All India.  Further, these books are not available round the year as Indian railway publishes these Guides once in a year and by the year end not a single book is available in any counter or book stalls.   After publication this publication sells like hot cake and goes out of counter very soon.  Generally, in Indian Railway the timings of the trains change every year in July.

But don’t worry about all these as Indian Railway has taken the help of the internet to reach you and guide you. Indian RailwayTrainenquiryRailtelwill guide you in evaporating your doubts related to every thing about Indian Railways. Sorry, I think I am straying around. Lo, I have come back to the Electronic Ticket. As the ticket is booked electronically in the internet it is called Electronic. It is nothing but an earnest effort in the part of IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) a subsidiary of Indian Railway to ease the pressure from the conventional counter. In other words it is nothing but going the elite way as middle class and business world use the internet prominently. 

PREREQUISITES: 

• First, you will have to create an account in the relevant website maintained by the IRCTC.

 • You will have to reveal your ATM card number or Credit Card number. Don’t worry, the site is safe and secure. This is done to debit the charges of your Ticket.

• An Identity card issued by any authority. For example, PAN Card, Passport, Voter-Id card or Driving License or I card issued by state or central govt. can do. 

• A small amount of commission is deducted for the ticket.

• Enter the website entering your user name and password. And start making your ticket. If you are done, then print a copy that will constitute your ticket along with the original copy of your I-Card. 

• All nationalized banks and private banks have got E ticket booking facilities that one can use instead of an account with the Irctc website. 

Remember to take the print out and your I-card when you travel. On board ticket checking staff will demand you all these while checking your ticket. In case you fail to provide one then you will be penalized. For example if you fail to bring the ERS (Electronic Reservation Slip) you will be penalized Rs. 50/- per ticket. Recently Indian railway has changed the rule to allow any of the five Identity cards in original to be valid while traveling. (Voter I-card, Passport, PAN Card, Driving Licence and Any I-cards issued by Central and State Governments )And in case one fails to show any identity card listed above he/she is liable to be penalized. And the penalty will be the full fare paid and Rs. 250/- per passenger.

If you happen to be placed on waitlist then make sure it is confirm before making the journey. Railway has devised such a system to drop all wait listed tickets made electronically and the money is automatically refunded to the account of the passenger. If you are detected making journey on such waitlisted ticket then you are liable to be penalized the fare for entire distance that you want to make and Rs. 250/- per passengers. So please check your ticket position before making journey. You can check your position and see if Chart is Done. If Chart is done then there is no possibility of any improvement. Partially waitlisted and partially confirmed tickets holders can travel as in that case the waitlisted tickets are not dropped. 

In case you have confirmed ticket and want to cancel partially then you can do so in the relevant website. But this can be done before 4 hours of the Charting Location. If you happen to behind the time then approach the on board ticket checking staff for a Refund certificate. Remember as you have made your ticket electronically you are not entitled to refund across the counter. Instead at your destination approach the ticket checking staff in the station or the station master for a TDR (Ticket Deposit Receipt). Then write to the IRCTC for refund. In case you happen to be behind schedule and want to cancel the entire ticket then you can do so in the website by applying for an Online TDR. 

This ticket is also available for the Tatkal (An Instant type of reservation) scheme should you pay the premium as per class you want. This charge varies according to class. Refer to the website’s relevant links to know about the charges as the charge varies from train to train and from time to time. 

The website opens for ticketing at 5 AM and closes at 23.30 hours whereas the conventional counter opens at 8 in the morning and closes at 8 in the evening. 

The ticket has been gaining popularity and in days to come it will be the ticket of Indian Railway. So, why wait and queued up in front of a PRS counter. Instead make your ticket yourself and travel hassle free. Bon Voyage! Good luck