Internet Ticketing

IRCTC has truly revolutionized the way millions of Indians experience rail travel. Its online ticketing platform stands as a remarkable boon to the common citizen, seamlessly blending convenience with cutting-edge technology. When IRCTC embarked on its internet ticketing journey in August 2002, it commenced with the booking of merely 27 tickets on the inaugural day. From that humble beginning, the growth trajectory has been truly remarkable. On 6th March 2025, IRCTC etched history by achieving a milestone—recording 16.17 lakh e-tickets booked in a single day, a testament to the trust and confidence reposed by millions of passengers. Today, with a remarkable legacy of over 25 years of innovation, IRCTC stands as one of the largest and most trusted e-commerce platforms in India and the Asia-Pacific region. It embodies trust, innovation, and technological excellence, driving digital empowerment for the nation. The e-Ticketing system was upgraded to the Next Generation e-Ticketing (NGeT) System on 28th April 2014, significantly enhancing booking capacity and user experience. Powered by state-of-the-art high-capacity servers, the NGeT system is capable of handling more than 30,000 ticket bookings per minute. Demonstrating its robustness, the system achieved a record milestone on 12th March 2025 at 10:01 hrs, by successfully booking 30,155 tickets in a single minute. IRCTC has pioneered internet-based rail ticket booking in India through its official website www.irctc.co.in and the IRCTC Rail Connect Mobile Application (available on both Android and iOS platforms). During FY 2024–25, these digital platforms collectively accounted for an impressive 86.38% of all reserved tickets booked on Indian Railways. On average, 13.88 lakh tickets were booked daily through IRCTC’s website and mobile application in the same period, reflecting the trust and convenience enjoyed by millions of passengers. The platform provides 24x7 seamless ticketing services, with a brief technical closure of only 35 minutes (23:45 hrs to 00:20 hrs) for system maintenance.

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No. of E-Tickets &
Passengers Booked

During the financial year 2024–25, a total of 5,065 lakh tickets were booked through the e-ticketing system, marking a significant rise from 4,530 lakh tickets in 2023–24. Correspondingly, the number of passengers booked on e-tickets increased to 8,911 lakh in 2024–25, as compared to 8,025 lakh passengers in the previous year. The Passenger-to-Ticket ratio for the year stood at an impressive 1.76:1, reflecting enhanced utilization of e-ticketing services.

E-ticketing Revenue Collection

During the financial year 2024–25, Indian Railways recorded a total ticket fare collection of ₹70,215 crores, reflecting an impressive 14% growth over the previous year’s revenue of ₹61,737 crores.

New Initiatives Taken During
2024-25

IRCTC has undertaken several strategic initiatives to elevate its business and services within this segment

Key enhancements introduced through the Rail Connect mobile app, available on both Android and iOS platforms, encompassed: a) 1. Booking of DMRC QR Code based ticket under- "One India One Ticket" Initiative through IRCTC website & Android Mobile App w.e.f - 10th July 2024 & iOS Mobile App w.e.f.- 31st July 2024). 2. Time limit for advance reservation ARP Booking (reduce from 120 days to 60 days) in IRCTC Website & Rail Connect Mobile App w.e.f. 01.11.2024. 3. RBL Bank Cobrand Credit Card integrated under IRCTC Loyalty Program on IRCTC Website w.e.f. 14.09.2024 and on IRCTC Mobile App w.e.f. 01.02.2025. 4. IRCTC SBI Loyalty Programme has been enhanced by integrating the SBI Rupay Premium Credit Card, on website effective from 01.10.2024. 5. Option of selecting Catering Service option as Jain Meal, Veg (Diabetic) & Non Veg (Diabetic) implemented in all the pre-paid trains on Website w.e.f. 30.09.2024 and on Mobile App (Android & iOS) w.e.f. 20.09.2024.

New services added on Marketing

IRCTC Website
IRCTC Mobile Apps

Push Notification Services on IRCTC Website and Mobile App: 929.74 crore push notifications for IRCTC in-house items were sent to subscribers nationwide using this facility. These alerts included information about various IRCTC tourism products such as bus booking, Ramayana Yatra, e-Catering, Bharat Gaurav tourist trains, Bharat Gaurav Deluxe Tourist Train and many more.
New Feature of Gen AI is integrated on AskDisha Chatbot w.e.f. 31.12.2024. Have implemented Voiceto- text and text-to-voice capabilities over generative response layer to provide accessibility and enhance the user experience in Ask Disha Chatbot.

Passengers of Vande Bharat trains can now choose Tea / Coffee as option while booking tickets w.e.f. 25.07.2023
"Amazon Pay Wallet " made live on IRCTC Rail e-Ticketing website w.e.f. 02-Nov-2023.
Automatic refund of difference of fare amount for the passengers impacted due to downgrade in class of travel from 3A to 3E started.

In Lucknow - New Delhi Tejas trains operated by IRCTC, facility to avail current booking from Kanpur till before 10 minutes of scheduled departure has been provided for the convenience of passengers w.e.f. 21st Sep 2023.
Promotion of "Swachhata hi Seva 2023" logo on Electronic Reservation Slip (ERS) started on 18th Sep 2023.
Digital marketing campaign started with Bank of Baroda for Digital promotion and lead generation on 10-Oct-2023 and with HDFC Bank on 16-Nov-2023.

Passengers of Vande Bharat trains can select "Tea with snacks (Veg only)" for selected sectors while booking tickets w.e.f. 28.11.2023
The ticket booking experience during Tatkal hours has been significantly enhanced since 09-Dec-2023 leading to a remarkable increase in 20,000 plus bookings per minute.
Same day refund feature for Rail e-ticketing has been introduced for transactions whereas Amount deducted but ticket not booked, during the year.

In Vande Bharat trains, new SMS service has been implemented to confirmed passengers to book meal through link provided via SMS w.e.f. 17-01-2024. Besides, Functionality of sending menu of available meal plans through SMS, Confirmation of meal booking, Failed meal booking, Cancellation of Meal booking & Refund of Cancelled meal booking through SMS and Mails also implemented w.e.f. 21-02-2024.
Travel insurance: M/s Royal Sundaram General Insurance has been enrolled to provide travel insurance services to E-ticket Passengers. Insurance premium rate has also been revised from Rs 0.35 to 0.45 w.e.f. 17-02-2024.

Push Notification Services on IRCTC Website and Mobile App: 929.74 crore push notifications for IRCTC in-house items were sent to subscribers nationwide using this facility. These alerts included information about various IRCTC tourism products such as bus booking, Ramayana Yatra, e-Catering, Bharat Gaurav tourist trains, Bharat Gaurav Deluxe Tourist Train and many more.
New Feature of Gen AI is integrated on AskDisha Chatbot w.e.f. 31.12.2024. Have implemented Voiceto- text and text-to-voice capabilities over generative response layer to provide accessibility and enhance the user experience in Ask Disha Chatbot.

Syncing of Booking Status and Current Status across every applicable location in the iOS App. implemented on 07-Apr-2023.
Login through Biometric or pattern lock avoiding PIN and without CAPTCHA is started in iOS Mobile App w.e.f. 07-Apr-2023.
Integration of M/s Bajaj Finance Ltd is enabled on 05-May-2023, as EMI Payment Provider on RDS Model in Android Mobile App.

e-Wallet add/deposit money option added in Android Mobile App on 7-Jul-23.
Refund amount enquiry Button provided on cancellation page of Android Mobile App on 20-Jul-23.
All Station Search Requirement based of city name wise added in Android Mobile App on 20-Jul-23.

Display of state name alongside city name in station search list started in iOS Mobile App on 1-Aug-23.
Tea/Coffee option added in trains as catering service during booking process in Android Mobile App on 26-Jul-23 and on iOS Mobile App on 8-Aug-23.
Integration of Easebuzz as MPP and Razorpay UPI in UPI (exclusive) payment option on IRCTC Rail e-ticketing iOS Mobile Apps iOS enabled on 8-Aug-23.

Integration of Amazon Associates as Advertisement partners for Deals, Offers and Shopping Experience and as Bill Payment and Recharge partners is enabled and product made live on Android Mobile App on 14-Sep-23.
Display of Duty Pass quota availability has been started on Android Mobile App since 19-Oct-2023.
Integration of (Comprehensive Payment Solution) enhanced payment and refund flow implemented on IRCTC Rail Connect Mobile Apps w.e.f. 16-Nov-2023 due to which success rate of ticket booking and timely refund rate has been improved.

Infant Child berth booking option provided on IRCTC Rail Connect iOS Mobile App w.e.f. 22-Nov-2023.
Passengers travelling in Vande Bharat trains are being provided with option to select "Tea with snacks (Veg only)" for selected sectors at the time of booking on Mobile Apps (iOS & Android) since 20-Dec-2023.
In Vande Bharat trains passengers can book Meals post booking on Mobile Android Apps since 11-Jan-2024 & on Mobile iOS Apps since 22-Feb-2024.

Berth Preference check implemented for booking ticket on Mobile Android Apps since 11-Jan-2024 & on Mobile iOS Apps since 22-Feb-2024. System will apply validation of maximum number of choice of berths as per defined capacity of cabin in SL/AC coaches during booking i.e. maximum 2 nos. LB, 2 nos. MB, 2 nos. UB, 1 no. SL and 1 no. SU.
On Mobile Android App, SBIepay Multiple Payment Provider has been made live on 11-Jan-2024 & Bharatipay Multiple Payment Provider has been made live on 14-Feb-2024.
Ordering of food using e-Catering services in Mobile iOS Apps started w.e. f. 22-Feb-2024.

Miscellaneous initiatives during the Q4 of 2023-2024:

New Subsidiary Company of IRCTC "IRCTC PAYMENTS LIMITED" has been incorporated on 10-Feb-24 with Ministry of Corporate Affairs for its Payment Aggregator business.

Highlights of Internet Ticketing FY 2024-25

IRCTC e-ticketing platform has achieved highest ever per minute booking record of 30,155 on 12-March-2025 at 10:01 AM

IRCTC e-ticketing platform achieved highest hourly booking record of 1,85,513 during tatkal hours between 10 to 11 on 21-03-2024.

IRCTC e-ticketing platform has achieved highest booking in a day record of 16,17,404 on 6-March-2025

Total number of tickets booked were 5065.28 Lakhs, which is 11.82% more than last year.

Total 14.63 Crore Mobile App (on Android & iOS) Downloads till 31st March, 2025

Mobile Bookings: The average Mobile App bookings during 2024-25 were 7.47 Lakh tickets per day, as compared to 6.34 Lakh tickets in 2023-24. 53.80% of IRCTC e-tickets have been booked through IRCTC Mobile App during FY 2024-25

Mobile Bookings: The average Mobile App bookings during 2023-24 were 6.35 Lakh tickets per day, as compared to 5.60 Lakh tickets in 2022-23. 13.70% of IRCTC e-Tickets have been booked through IRCTC Rail Connect Mobile App during FY 2023-24.

Share of Reserved Rail tickets booked online was 86.38% in 2024-25, as compared to 82.68% of the reserved tickets booked online in 2023-24. There has been continuous increase in online booking share over the years.

Achieved the highest-ever one-day Google Ad Manager revenue more than Rs.14 Lakhs on 27.10.2024.

Advertisement / Marketing / Promotional Activities

Push Notification Services on IRCTC Website and Mobile App

Through this facility 1748 crores Mobile App push notifications and 738 crores Website push notifications were send to users across India for IRCTC in-house products ranging from Bharat Gaurav Tourist trains, E-Catering, Chatbot Booking services to Ramayana Yatra, Bus bookings and many such more items.

Integration of Ad Network for additional Advertisement revenue

OPENx Ad Network was added to Google Ad Manager on 13-Oct-2023 for facilitating ad-on revenue to IRCTC.

Internet Ticketing

No. of E-Tickets & Passengers Booked

E-ticketing Revenue Collection

New services added on Marketing

Highlights of Internet Ticketing FY 2024-25

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No. of E-Tickets &
Passengers Booked