Rail tickets to come with QR codes for safer entry

Rail tickets to come with QR codes for safer entry

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

24.07.2020

New Delhi: All rail tickets, including platform tickets, will now come with QR code for contactless entry to stations and trains on the lines of airports. Railway Board chairman V K Yadav also said on Thursday that the experience of booking tickets online will change from next month with the launch of a revamped IRCTC website, which will use artificial intelligence for quick search and suggestions for alternative trains.

Work is also on to issue tickets in a single booking for connecting trains on the lines of airline tickets, if someone has to take more than one train to reach the destination.AI will be used to see demand for certain destinations and timing of connecting trains will be changed accordingly.

Speaking to reporters, Yadav said, “We have introduced QR code on tickets. If you are buying online, you will get the ticket with QR code. In case you are buying a physical ticket from the reservation counter, the SMS sent to the mobile number will have a link and one will get the QR code by clicking the link in his/ her smart phone. The TTEs at stations or inside trains can read the QR code and capture the details using their hand-held devices or mobile phone.”

He added nearly 85% of the tickets are being booked online during the pandemic.

On the revamp of IRCTC website, Yadav said there will be easy access and the time taken to book tickets will reduce. “The website will have several features to derive inputs such as analysis of past data to forecast the probability of a wait-list ticket getting confirmed. It will also suggest the passengers alternative options for travel on the same day to the same destination with high probability of getting a confirmed ticket,” he added.

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In a 1st, Rlys to have ‘corridors’ for maintenance

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