IRCTC launches e-wallet scheme for booking tickets

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has launched e-wallet, a user-friendly scheme aimed at making purchase of e-tickets easier.  The e-wallet is a rolling deposit scheme wherein the customers will have an account with the IRCTC and deposit money to be used in future for booking e-tickets from its website (irctc.co.in), said a senior IRCTC official involved with the project.

Currently, one has to make the payment for the fare of the ticket, while booking e-ticket, through credit card, debit card or net banking. The process is a bit longer as the customer is transferred to the bank's server, from IRCTC's server, for making the payment and thereafter he is once again taken back into the IRCTC site which takes considerable time for booking a ticket, he said.

There have been instances when customer's login, in the IRCTC site, expires during this process and money is deducted from his bank account but he fails to get the ticket. The problem is being addressed with the launching of e-wallet scheme, he said.

Since the customer's money is already deposited with the IRCTC, he is not transferred to the bank's server for payment. This way precious time is saved and the chances of money deduction and not getting ticket are also nullified.

Only PAN card verified users can register this scheme and in case of ticket cancellation, the due refund will be credited to the e-wallet account next day.