Indian Railways Eases Ticketing: Unreserved, Platform Tickets Available Anywhere via App

In a significant move to enhance passenger convenience, Indian Railways has lifted a crucial restriction, enabling the purchase of unreserved tickets (UTS) from anywhere through a mobile app. Railway passengers can now obtain unreserved and platform tickets without leaving their homes, stated senior divisional commercial manager Saurabh Kataria.

Removal of Geo-Fencing Restriction

Previously, a 50 km radius outer border geo-fencing restriction limited ticket bookings. This constraint has been eliminated, allowing travelers to book unreserved tickets from any location with a smartphone and internet access. However, regulations regarding inner limits, permitting ticket purchases near railway station premises, remain unchanged. Presently, around 25 percent of commuters utilize the UTS app for online ticket purchases.

Impact on Travelers, Particularly in Urban Areas

This change is expected to particularly benefit train travelers in cities like Mumbai, where millions rely on local trains. Previously, paperless tickets for suburban trains were only available within a 20 km radius, and within 50 km for non-suburban trains. The new policy is likely to encourage online ticket bookings, reducing queues at station ticket counters.

Introduction of Vande Metro for Intra-City Transportation

In related news, Indian Railways is set to introduce the first Vande Metro to revolutionize intra-city transportation, according to a senior official familiar with the project, as reported by news agency PTI. Preparations are underway to commence trial runs from July 2024, with a focus on providing services to the public at the earliest. The Vande Metro will incorporate several innovative features tailored to the needs of urban commuters, leveraging cutting-edge technology to achieve high acceleration and deceleration, enabling it to cover more stops in less time.

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