Post-demonetisation: IRCTC upgrading technology to push for cashless transactions

In a sustained bid to promote cashless transactions, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has decided to leverage technology for further digitisation of its operations, especially in its e-catering, e-ticketing and tourism segments.

“India is fast transitioning to a cashless economy and the Prime Minister’s latest initiative to demonetise high value currencies will give an impetus to the process. We have already digitised a considerable segment of our operations in tune with the government’s flagship ‘Digital India’ programme.

“We are determined to push forward our passenger-friendly measures in a more aggressive manner by leveraging technology,” said IRCTC Chairman and Managing Director A K Manocha.

IRCTC is involved in digitising financial transactions on various fronts like booking of train and flight tickets and monthly season tickets.

He said the recently launched e-catering service ‘Food on Track’ has been a success with the facility providing rail passengers flexible option of choosing their meals from the list of popular food service vendors empanelled with IRCTC. The meals can be ordered on IRCTC website.

“A major benefit of this service is that the passengers can make payment for their meal orders online and they do not have to carry loads of hard cash. They can make payment through their credit/debit cards as well as e-wallets like Mobikwik and Paytm. The online meal booking is also available through Android and iOS-based applications that can be downloaded on any smart phone,” Manocha said.

IRCTC has partnered with popular food aggregators like Dominos, Haldiram, KFC and Sarvana Bhavan to expand the culinary choices for the passengers.