As India marches ahead on its public digital infrastructure, the ‘super app’ – the cute little genie on your mobile phone – is becoming more and more popular. According to reports, Indian Railways is going to shortly launch a super app of its own by the end of this calendar year.
Significantly, it will be another major step towards modernising its passenger services after the railways overhauled its complaints system by incorporating artificial intelligence (AI) which allows passengers to convey complaints on passenger amenities in real time and the railways can get these redressed. What’s significant is that passengers can record complaints through voice call in their language. While the use of Hindi is already permitted, Bengali and Telugu are in the pipeline.
IRCTC Super App: Book tickets, monitor train schedules
Once this app is introduced, the common people won’t need to run around to book tickets or monitor train schedules or even book platform tickets. Reports have said that this super app on your mobile phone will equip you to buy platform tickets, book railway tickets as well as monitor train schedules.
This super app will integrate the services that IRCTC currently provides such as IRCTC Rail Connect for ticket transactions, IRCTC eCatering Food on Track for meal delivery, service for passenger feedback, service for unreserved tickets and train enquiry system.
Super app being developed by CRIS
This new super app is being developed by CRIS or Centre for Railway Information Systems. This is a specialised body of IT professionals and railway personnel. It works on various complex IT projects related to the railways and its areas of work mainly includes ticketing and passenger service, freight service and operational efficiency.
“IRCTC will continue as the interface between CRIS and passengers buying train tickets. Integration between the planned super app and IRCTC is underway,” a senior official disclosed told the media.
IRCTC financial performance
IRCTC services are not only popular but also profit generating. For FY24, it earned a profit after tax of Rs 1,111.26 crore on a revenue of Rs 4,270.18 crore. According to reports ticket sales alone, as much as 30.33% of the total revenue was attributable to the total revenue.
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