Indian Railways has seen a big increase in ticket bookings over the last three years. In 2021-22, passengers booked 131.69 crore tickets, but this number rose to 279.58 crore in 2023-24. This information was shared in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

Online ticket booking becoming more popular

The Railway Ministry shared that the online ticket booking system provided by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has made travel easier for passengers. The ministry stated, "Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has provided the facility to book reserved tickets online, saving passengers from the botheration of going to reservation counters to book the tickets, thus saving travel time and transportation expenses. IRCTC levies a convenience fee. In addition, customers also pay transaction charges to banks."

Currently, more than 80% of reserved tickets are booked online. However, passengers still have the option to buy tickets physically from railway counters. The fare structure remains the same for both online and counter bookings. The Railway Ministry explained, "As far as fare is concerned, which includes basic fare, reservation charges, surcharge superfast, and GST as applicable, it is the same for both passenger reservation system counter tickets and e-tickets."

Ticket sales and revenue growth

The data provided by the ministry shows that in 2021-22, Indian Railways earned Rs 39,214 crore from ticket sales. This was a period when COVID-19 had affected travel, reducing the number of people using trains.

In 2022–23, ticket sales increased to 251.81 crore, generating revenue of Rs 63,417 crore. The trend continued in 2023-24, with 279.58 crore tickets booked, leading to passenger revenue of Rs 70,693 crore.

Passenger compensation and insurance options

The Railway Ministry stated that passengers who face accidents are eligible for compensation under the Railways Act of 1989. "In addition to this, an ex gratia amount as an instant relief is also given to passengers who meet with train accidents/untoward incidents," the ministry added.

Passengers who book tickets online also have the option to buy travel insurance under the Optional Travel Insurance Scheme (OTIS). The Railway Ministry explained, "This scheme is purely optional in nature. Any passenger who wishes to avail insurance benefits can opt for this scheme at the time of booking the ticket at his/her discretion."

The insurance cover provides financial security in case of accidents. Passengers who opt for it will have to fill in their nomination details on the insurance company’s website and can directly settle claims with them.

 

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