SMS & USSD Based Ticketing System – Non Internet based Mobile ticket booking for train journey

SMS & USSD Based Ticketing System – Non Internet based Mobile ticket booking for train journey

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Railways

28-June-2013 17:30 IST

Mallikarjun Kharge Launches SMS Based Ticketing System

This New System will Improve Customer Convenience and Empower the Common Man: Kharge

The Minister of Railways Shri Mallikarjun Kharge launched SMS based ticketing system at a function here today. While addressing a gathering on the occasion, Shri Kharge said that this user-friendly service which will be effective from today i.e 28th June 2013, is being introduced in order to further improve the customer convenience and empower the common man who does not have access to internet and cannot afford to buy smart phones.

He said that since the mobile penetration in India has increased rapidly and more than 80 per cent people have mobile phones, this new system will be helpful in enabling booking of tickets by masses themselves. Ticket booking through non-internet based mobile, introduced as a pilot project by Indian Railways Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a Public Sector Undertaking of the Ministry of Railways, will also help Railways in overcoming the menace of touting whereby unsuspecting people are fleeced by such elements.

This will particularly be useful for labourers and workers staying away from their home and who have to book tickets for travel to their native place, the Minister added.

The Railway Minister further said that inconvenience in booking reserved railway tickets has been a cause of concern for all.  In order to facilitate easy access, Indian Railways have been making efforts by expanding the    passenger reservation system counters network.  The online booking through IRCTC has now grown up to about 45% of total reserved tickets.  This has eased the rush at counters to a great extent. While internet access in India is only about 10%, mobiles are now in easy reach and more than 80% people in our country use mobile phones, the Minister said.

Speaking on the occasion, Chairman, Railway Board, Shri Vinay Mittal said that Indian Railways’ initiative of launching the non-internet based ticketing through a mobile phone would further enhance the scope and each of ticketing since it has huge potential to tap the power of mobile phone. Shri Mittal said that this service will be improved further with provision of more payment options, user-friendly interface and value added services like alerts and updates.

Payment through mobiles is still in an evolving state and Commercial Banks, RBI and National Payment Corporation of India are working on providing a safe, secured and quick payment mechanism through mobile. As the payment option mature and user gets accustomed to SMS booking, it has the potential of overtaking bookings through internet as well as counters, he added.

In his welcome address, the Chairman-cum-Managing Director, IRCTC, Shri Rakesh Tondon said that this is, indeed, IRCTC’s successful effort in making railway ticket booking even easier through SMS or menu based USSD technology which works on all mobile phones.  Through this service, customer can not only book ticket but also can search for stations, trains, availability, PNR enquiry, make cancellation etc, he added.

Launch of ticket booking service through mobile phones had been announced in Railway Budget 2012-13.    This initiative will go a long way in customer convenience.  With the passage of time, it is expected that mobile booking will surpass reserved ticket booking by all other modes like internet and counters.  Mobile booking is not only convenient but it also saves time and money.  The user will have to get mobile money account opened from his/her bank or mobile money providing agencies as approved by the Reserve Bank of India.

The key features of ticket booking on mobile:

• Ticket can be booked within minutes;
• basic mobile phones are sufficient; no internet connection is required;
• The user will get ticket details on SMS instantly.
• SMS along with valid ID in original can be used for travel, no printout is required.

Book your ticket through USSD:

USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) based booking for Airtel subscribers*

Registration

•     Register for Airtel money by dialing *400#.

•     Load cash on this or recharge from any Airtel money outlet.

Booking Flow

•     Dial *400# and select book tickets option.

•     Select Reservation.

•     Enter your IRCTC User ID.

•     Enter the details of ticket (station, train no. date of journey, class etc.).

•     Enter mPIN for authorizing payment.

•     Booking confirmation SMS is sent by IRCTC and same can be used during journey along with valid ID proof.

•     Fare & IRCTC service charges are debited from your Airtel money account.

•     Charges: No PG Charges.

•     Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable

Helpline No.: 121

Helpline Email : 121@airtelmoney.in

Book your ticket through SMS:

1. SMS based booking through 139*

Registration

•     Register your mobile number with IRCTC as well as with your bank.

•     Bank provides MMID (Mobile Money Identifier) & OTP (one time password) for authorization of payment.  (More than 25 banks are providing this facility. For details, visit website:  http://www.npci.org.in/bankmember.aspx.)

Booking Flow

•     Send SMS, in the following syntax, to 139

      BOOK

•     You will receive Transaction ID alongwith other details.

•     Make payment through sending an SMS, in the following syntax, to 139

      PAY and your ticket is booked.

•     Service is available to all mobile subscribers.

•     SMSes @ Rs 3/- per SMS (2 SMSes are required for each booking).

•     PG charges Rs 5/- for ticket amount Rs 5000/- (as applicable by bank).

•     Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable

Helpline No.: 139

Helpline Email : smsticket139@bharatbpo.in

2. SMS based booking through 5676714*

Registration

Register your mobile number with IRCTC as well as with m-wallet (http://www.zipcash.in/user/nlogin.aspx)

Send SMS, to 5676717, in the following syntax START for user authentication (first time only)

Booking Flow

• Send an SMS to 5676714 to book a ticket in the following syntax:
• BOOK,, , ,, ,,
• You will receive the Transaction number.
• Send the 2nd SMS, for payment, in the following syntax.

1.   “PAY , MPAY, ” for authorizing payment through MPAY

or

2.   “PAY  ,,, ,” for authorizing payment through IMPS.

• After payment is made booking confirmation is sent to your mobile.
• Charges: No PG Charges. Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable. SMSes @ Rs 3/- per SMS (2 SMSes are required for each booking).

Helpline No. : 8882001001

Helpline Email : support@saarthii.com

3. SMS based booking through BSNL*

User should have the following:

1.   BSNL SIM card installed.

2.   Java enabled mobile phone.

3.   Andhra Bank Prepaid card.

This is a menu driven application where user has to enter the details asked for in simple step-by-step process to get the ticket.

Registration

•     Install the application.

•     Select the Register option to get the mPIN.

Booking

•     Click the icon BSNL Prepaid Card

•     Select Ticketing > Train (IRCTC)

•     Fill up the journey details such as From stn, To Stn, Train No, DOJ, Class, Quota, passenger details.

•     Enter the mPIN to get the ticket information.

•     Charges: No PG Charges. Agent / IRCTC Service Charges: As applicable. SMSes without charges.

Helpline No. : +91-8801298038

Helpline Email : bsnl.support@pyrogroup.com