Travel

Indian Railways has introduced the "Current Ticket" facility, allowing passengers to book available seats just hours before a train's departure. This service fills any vacant seats left unbooked, ensuring full train occupancy and providing last-minute travelers with a confirmed seat. Passengers can avail of this facility by visiting the ticket booking counter at the station, but availability depends on the number of vacant seats. It’s an ideal option for those needing to travel on short notice

Indian Railways is set to launch a comprehensive mobile application by the end of the year, designed as a one-stop platform for various passenger services. Developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), this "super app" will enable users to book tickets, buy platform passes, and monitor train schedules. It will integrate with existing IRCTC systems, ensuring continued access to ticketing and catering services. With over 100 million downloads, the IRCTC Rail Connect app remains the most widely used, and the new app is seen as a significant opportunity for increased revenue. In FY 2023-24, IRCTC reported a net profit of ₹1,111.26 crore, with ticket sales contributing significantly to its revenue.

The Maha Mumbai Metro Operation Corporation Limited (MMMOCL) is closing ticket windows at select stations on Metro 2A and 7 to promote digital ticketing and reduce costs. This shift allows passengers to buy tickets via WhatsApp, eliminating paper tickets. Since its launch, the use of QR tickets at ticket windows has dropped from 56% to 48%. Currently, QR tickets account for most sales, with NCMC cards and mobile payments making up another 44%. The initiative not only cuts expenses but also aims to benefit the environment by reducing paper use, streamlining ticket booking to just 120 seconds.

Central Railway has temporarily restricted platform ticket sales at key stations, including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, Dadar, and Pune, to manage crowding during the festive season. This follows a stampede at Bandra Terminus that injured at least 10 people. Senior citizens and those with medical needs are exempt from the restrictions. Additionally, Central Railway has announced two unreserved special trains between CSMT and Gorakhpur to accommodate increased passenger demand, bringing the total number of special services for the festivals to 583.

On Sunday, 24 flights operated by Indian airlines, including IndiGo and Vistara, received bomb threats, prompting immediate security measures. IndiGo reported threats on routes such as Jeddah to Mumbai and Delhi to Istanbul, while Vistara faced similar issues on flights like Delhi to Frankfurt. All affected aircraft were thoroughly inspected and cleared for operations. Civil aviation authorities are treating the situation seriously, with over 90 bomb threats reported this week, most being hoaxes. Officials reassured passengers that "Indian skies are absolutely safe," emphasizing that robust security protocols are in place.