Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is an
Indian public sector undertaking that provides ticketing, catering, and

tourism services for the state-owned Indian Railways. It was established in
1999 by the Government of India and operated under the administrative
control of the Ministry of Railways. In 2019, it was listed on the National
Stock Exchange and Bombay Stock Exchange with the Government
holding a 67% ownership. As of December 2023, there are 66 million
registered users with IRCTC with a daily average of 7.31 lakh tickets
booked.
History
[edit]
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) was established

on 27 September 1999, as a public sector undertaking completely owned
by the Government of India through the Indian Railways.[3] In May 2008, it
was classed as a Miniratna public corporation, which allowed it a certain
degree of financial autonomy.[3] In 2018, then Railway Minister Piyush
Goyal stated that the government was exploring opportunities for
disinvestment of IRCTC.[4]
The company was listed on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) in 2019,
following which the Government of India's holding was reduced to 87%,
with the remaining shares being publicly traded. [5][6] In December 2020,
the Government of India divested another 20%, reducing its holding in the
IRCTC to 67%.[7][8][9] In December 2022, the government dis-invested
further 5% of its share, reducing its ownership to 62.4%. [10]
Services
[edit]
Ticketing and information
[edit]
Online ticketing for Indian Railways was introduced on 3 August 2002

through IRCTC.[11] IRCTC provides multiple channels for passengers to book
tickets through website, smartphone apps and SMS. For Electronic tickets
(e-tickets) booked online, IRCTC issues an electronic ticket with a
reference PNR on a successful booking.[12] Electronic tickets can be used
for travel along with a valid photo identification and cancellation can be
done online.[12][13] For Internet tickets (I-tickets), while the booking is done
online, physical tickets are sent to the customer through post.[12]
Reserved tickets may be booked up to 60 days in advance and confirmed

reservation tickets will show the passenger and fare details along with
berth or seat number(s) allocated to them on the ticket. In case of no
confirmed reservation, a wait-list (WL) number is assigned. There are
different types of wait-lists depending on the originating and destination
stations of the train and the passenger including Roadside Station Waiting
List (RSWL) when tickets are booked from the originating station to an
intermediate station and Pooled Quota Waiting List (PQWL) where tickets
booked to travel between specific sets of stations are pooled as a single
category. A General Waiting List (GNWL) ticket has no such restrictions,
and wait-listed tickets get confirmed if there are cancellations of already
reserved tickets in the respective categories and get cancelled
automatically if seats are not confirmed before the departure of the train.
[14]
Reservation against cancellation tickets (RAC) is an intermediate
category between the waiting and confirmed lists in sleeper classes which
allows a ticket holder to board the train and share a berth. [15] Reserved
tickets can be booked by passengers who want to travel at short notice at
higher fares through the Tatkal quota (TQ), which has a standalone waiting
list (TQWL) and no refund is applicable on cancellation of confirmed
tickets.[16]
In 2011, IRCTC launched a loyalty program called Shubh Yatra for frequent
travelers wherein passengers could avail discounts on all tickets by paying
an upfront annual subscription fee.[17] In 2012, IRCTC introduced
the Rolling Deposit Scheme (RDS), a type of closed wallet wherein
customers can book tickets using money already deposited. [18] In 2013,
flight and hotel booking services were added as a part of online
reservation services.[19] In 2016, IRCTC launched a lighter version of its
website to enable booking at low speed internet connections. [20] On 7
August 2019, IRCTC launched a payment wallet named iMudra.[21][22] On 11
August 2021, IRCTC introduced a smart card system through which
unreserved train tickets which can be bought either at railway stations or
online.[23] IRCTC provides train and ticketing related information to
passengers through SMS.[24]
A food plaza run by IRCTC
Catering and hospitality
[edit]
IRCTC has exclusive rights for onboard catering of food on all trains
operated by the Indian Railways. Pantry cars are attached to long and
medium distance trains, where food may be prepared onboard or pre-
cooked meals can be served depending on the type of the train and the
accommodation class.[25] IRCTC also operates food plazas, cafeterias
and refreshment rooms at various railway stations.[26] In 2014, IRCTC
launched e-catering services which allowed passengers to order food from
private restaurants online or through phone and have it delivered to their
seats.[27][28] IRCTC also manages air-conditioned waiting lounges, retiring
rooms and budget hotels at major railway stations. [29][30][31] IRCTC launched
a bottled water brand "Rail Neer" in 2003, which is sold on trains and
railway stations.[32][33][34]
Train operations
[edit]
Maharajas' Express, a luxury train operated by

IRCTC
IRCTC operates luxury trains such as Maharajas' Express, Deccan

Odyssey and other special tourist trains with varied classes. [35] These may
include standard coaches, regular coaches with modifications and
specially designed coaches with coupes, dedicated cabins and suites. [36]
IRCTC also operates a few express trains in co-ordination with Indian

Railways.[37] In 2020, the IRCTC began operating the first private train,
a Tejas Express from New Delhi to Lucknow.[38][39] IRCTC also operates
the Ahmedabad–Mumbai Central Tejas Express and Kashi Makahal
Express.[40]
Travel and insurance
[edit]
IRCTC also organizes package tours for domestic and foreign tourists.
[41]
IRCTC also enables booking of various services including hotel, flight,
taxi, and food delivery in co-ordination with third parties through the
platform.[42]
IRCTC offers travel insurance for passengers through a third party insurer.
In 2018, a security researcher reported that a free travel insurance
scheme of

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Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is an

Indian public sector undertaking that provides ticketing, catering, and

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) was established

Ticketing and information

Online ticketing for Indian Railways was introduced on 3 August 2002

Reserved tickets may be booked up to 60 days in advance and confirmed

A food plaza run by IRCTC

Catering and hospitality

Maharajas' Express, a luxury train operated by

IRCTC operates luxury trains such as Maharajas' Express, Deccan

IRCTC also operates a few express trains in co-ordination with Indian

Travel and insurance

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