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.