Come July, and users shall be able to book train tickets via SMS, a dedicated number for which shall be announced soon. This shall find many takers who are irritated by IRCTC e-ticketing portal’s sluggishness. The new SMS-based ticketing service lets you book tickets from anywhere, anytime. Printout of the ticket won’t be necessary as the message would suffice during the journey.
How does it work?
Users will have to register their mobile numbers and their banks with IRCTC (IRCTC has tied up with more than 20 banks in regards to this service, as per a spokesman). The bank will then provide the users with MMID (Mobile Money Identifier) and OTP (one time password) for payment authorization. Users have to punch in the train number, destination, journey date, class and other passenger details like Name, Age, Sex etc. on the SMS box. The user shall receive a transaction ID, and then can make payment by sending another SMS by typing PAY followed by the transaction ID, MMID as presented by the bank, and then the password.
For menu-based dialling, user has to dial the designated number and then select “book tickets” option, and then select “reservation” (user shall be prompted to enter his IRCTC ID just once), then give in other details (like destination, train number, date etc). User then has to enter his mPin in order to authorize payment via mobile wallet, after which a booking confirmation SMS is sent by IRCTC.
All mobile subscribers may avail this service, and a Rs 3/- charge shall be levied per SMS. For ticket amounting up to Rs 5,000/-, Rs 5/- shall be charged, and for over Rs 5,000/- it’s Rs 10/-.
Come July, and users shall be able to book train tickets via SMS, a dedicated number for which shall be announced soon. This shall find many takers who are irritated by IRCTC e-ticketing portal’s sluggishness. The new SMS-based ticketing service lets you book tickets from anywhere, anytime. Printout of the ticket won’t be necessary as the message would suffice during the journey.
How does it work?
Users will have to register their mobile numbers and their banks with IRCTC (IRCTC has tied up with more than 20 banks in regards to this service, as per a spokesman). The bank will then provide the users with MMID (Mobile Money Identifier) and OTP (one time password) for payment authorization. Users have to punch in the train number, destination, journey date, class and other passenger details like Name, Age, Sex etc. on the SMS box. The user shall receive a transaction ID, and then can make payment by sending another SMS by typing PAY followed by the transaction ID, MMID as presented by the bank, and then the password.
For menu-based dialling, user has to dial the designated number and then select “book tickets” option, and then select “reservation” (user shall be prompted to enter his IRCTC ID just once), then give in other details (like destination, train number, date etc). User then has to enter his mPin in order to authorize payment via mobile wallet, after which a booking confirmation SMS is sent by IRCTC.
All mobile subscribers may avail this service, and a Rs 3/- charge shall be levied per SMS. For ticket amounting up to Rs 5,000/-, Rs 5/- shall be charged, and for over Rs 5,000/- it’s Rs 10/-.