Indian Railways is poised to unveil an all-encompassing mobile application designed as a one-stop platform for a variety of passenger services. This innovative “super app” is expected to be introduced by the end of the year, according to officials involved in the project.
Key Features of the Super App
1. Unified Services: The app will facilitate a range of services including ticket booking, purchasing platform passes, and monitoring train schedules, thereby streamlining the passenger experience.
2. Development by CRIS: The app is being developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), which specializes in creating and managing the information systems for Indian Railways.
3. Integration with IRCTC: The new application will work in conjunction with existing systems managed by the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), which oversees ticketing, catering, and tourism services for the railway network.
4. Continued Role of IRCTC: An official stated that IRCTC will remain the primary interface for passengers, with integration between the new app and IRCTC’s systems already in progress.
5. Current Passenger Service Platforms: Presently, passengers utilize multiple applications for various services. These include:
IRCTC Rail Connect: The main platform for booking reserved tickets.
IRCTC eCatering Food on Track: For food delivery during journeys.
Rail Madad: For lodging complaints and feedback.
Unreserved Ticketing System: For purchasing unreserved tickets.
National Train Enquiry System: For train schedule inquiries.
6. Popularity of IRCTC Rail Connect: The IRCTC Rail Connect app, which holds exclusive rights for reserved ticket bookings, has achieved over 100 million downloads, making it the most widely used application within the Railways.
7. Revenue Generation Potential: According to officials, the ‘super app’ is seen by IRCTC as a new avenue for generating additional revenue.
8. Reliance of Third-Party Platforms: Many third-party booking platforms rely on IRCTC for reservation capabilities, highlighting the importance of the IRCTC system in the broader ecosystem of railway ticketing.
Financial Performance of IRCTC
For the fiscal year 2023-24, IRCTC reported impressive financial figures, with a net profit of ₹1,111.26 crore and total revenue reaching ₹4,270.18 crore. Notably, ticket sales alone accounted for 30.33% of the overall revenue, with over 453 million bookings made.
With this strategic move to introduce a super app, Indian Railways aims to enhance the travel experience for millions of passengers while potentially increasing its revenue streams in the competitive landscape of railway services.
