IRCTC To Launch New App For Air Ticket Bookings; Clarifies No Change In Rule For Tatkal Bookings, Cancellation
As per latest reports coming in, Indian Railways will launch a new application, using which passengers can now book air tickets as well.
Rs 7 crore will be spent on creating this app.
In other related news, Indian Railways has clarified that there has been no change in rules related to Tatkal bookings and cancellation of tickets.
Indian Railways’ New App For Booking Air Bookings!
Last year, Indian Railways started a new trend of business integration, when they launched a new section within their IRCTC app, called ‘IRCTC Air’ for booking flight tickets.
Buoyed by the response, Indian Railways is now bringing a new app, for the same purpose: book air tickets, on the go.
Besides, this new app will offer a comprehensive bouquet of services, meant for the passengers. Some of the other services which would be offered on this unnamed app are:
- Book train tickets
- Order food online, while travelling
- Book porters for carrying your luggage
- Book retiring rooms
- And more services
This app would be developed by CRIS, which is the software arm of Indian Railways, and estimated expenditure of Rs 7 crore would be incurred in the development of this app.
It seems that the inspiration for this app came from Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu’s budget speech, wherein he had said, “Presently we have different digital solutions for ticketing, grievance redressal and other issues. We intend to integrate all such facilities into two mobile apps, one dealing with all ticketing issues and the other for receipt and redressal of complaints and suggestions related to all our services.”
No Rules Changed For Tatkal, Cancellation
Since few days, there were rumours that Indian Railways has changed several rules, with effect from July 1st. Traditionally, July 1st is the date from when Indian Rail implements various changes pertaining to the booking of tickets, cancellation and more.
Clearing all doubts, Indian Rail issued a statement, saying that there has been no change in the current rules, and status quo has been maintained.
In their notification, Indian Railways said, “It has been noticed that a news item is in circulation on various social media platforms, WhatsApp groups, and some websites which mention that Indian Railways is introducing several changes and new facilities with effect from 1st July 2017. This news is totally incorrect and baseless..”
Here are the existing rules, which remain unchanged:
- AC ticket bookings for Tatkal shall start from 10 AM, non-AC ticket bookings from 11 AM
- Tatkal can be availed one day advance
- No refund in case of cancellation of Tatkal tickets
- Maximum 4 persons per ticket is allowed under Tatkal
- Tatkal has additional charges, besides reservation charges, incurred per head
- No concessions allowed in Tatkal
