Indian Railways is preparing to launch a comprehensive ‘super app’ that will consolidate multiple passenger services into a single platform. The new app will allow users to easily book tickets, purchase platform passes, track train schedules, and access other railway-related services in one place.
The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) is developing the app in collaboration with the existing IRCTC systems. However, IRCTC will continue to serve as the interface for ticket purchases, with ongoing discussions about integrating both platforms.
100 million downloads of IRCTC Rail Connect app
Currently, passengers rely on a variety of apps for different services: IRCTC Rail Connect for ticket bookings, IRCTC eCatering for food delivery, Rail Madad for feedback, UTS for unreserved tickets, and the National Train Enquiry System for tracking trains. IRCTC Rail Connect, with over 100 million downloads, is one of the most popular railway apps, exclusively handling reserved ticket bookings.
453 million bookings last year
Officials view the super app as a new revenue stream, as IRCTC holds a dominant position in the online ticketing market. In the fiscal year 2023-24, IRCTC processed 453 million bookings, contributing 30.33% of Indian Railways’ total revenue, which reached Rs 4,270.18 crore. The UTS app, with more than 10 million downloads, is another key service, handling platform tickets and season passes.
CRIS is responsible for developing and maintaining the crucial software systems that support the operations and services of Indian Railways.