e-ticket through cellphones evoking good response

Daisy

Patna : Mobile ticket booking for e-ticket through SMS  has evoked good response  across the country. It  is known  as mobile reservation  message  in railway parlance. Mobile ticket booking is available  from 12.30 pm to 11.30 pm everyday.

A Railway Board official said railway  ticket booking through cellphones is picking up fast and on an average about  1,000 tickets are being booked through cellphones daily  in the  country. Cellphone savvy people particularly from metropolitan cities  have been  using the  new system  more compared to other places, he said.  Under the  system, people would not have to face the long wait in the queue to procure railway computerized  journey tickets. This facility is available on both the new portal and  Indian Railway Catering and  Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC ) site. The railways is charging  Rs  5 per ticket  for  cellphone ticket booking, the Board official said.

The officer admitted that the newly developed  ultra modern  system  is yet to pick up in Bihar Railways is  keen  to create awareness  about this new facility among passengers of  East Central Railway (ECR). It is very similar  to e-ticketing  booking , he said.

People  booking rail tickets  through cellphones need to have Java enabled handsets  to access internet services. This facility will enable people to book their journey tickets in advance . Delivery of the tickets  can be had  through couriers. However, those having their own mail ID  can get the booked tickets  online too, sources said  adding WiFi is now available at most of the major stations in the country to facilitate passengers book their tickets from station premises.

Besides,   people  can seek information about  berth availability and journey plan through cellphones. Railways has provided  options for booking tickets  on cellphones through credit and debit cards. Railways  had introduced  this system  in 2003 , but  it could not click due to some technical reasons.  Thus railways  has  decided to re- introduce the system t  based on Java enabled handsets  as well as  on all those sets having internet facilities, sources said.