Unreserved Ticketing through Mobile Application in South

As of yesterday, rail commuters can use a mobile phone app to obtain tickets in the unreserved or general category through a mobile-based paperless unreserved ticketing application.

Apart from being a green initiative, the paperless ticketing system would also save time for passengers as it allows them to avoid lining up at the ticket window.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu introduced the mobile app for paperless unreserved ticketing for commuters in Egmore and Tambram suburban sections in Chennai under Southern Railway zone.
Developed by Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) “utsonmobile” – the paperless unreserved ticketing feature in mobile application aims to eliminate the need for printing of unreserved tickets.

The app, which is for both Android and Windows mobile-based platforms, can be downloaded from Google Play Store or Windows Store and used by the user.

The application provides necessary on-screen alerts to guide the passenger during the booking process.

Here is how you can use the app:
1. As per the plan, a traveller can download the app from the Google App store for Android-based mobile phones.
2. After the download, the user will get a registration ID number for creation of a railway e-wallet.
3. Money for buying tickets will have to be loaded through the e-wallet mobile payment system either online or at a ticket counter at any station.
4. Passengers have the option of topping up the e-wallet at ticket counters or on the IRCTC website using a credit or debit card.
5. Having booked a ticket using the App, a commuter needs not take a print-out of the same and he can show its soft copy on the cellphone to the TTE.
6. Besides booking tickets, season tickets can also be renewed using the app.
7. The passenger has to use the ticket within an hour of booking the ticket as per the policy of suburban sections.
8. The ticket will have distinct colour scheme everyday and it cannot be forwarded to another mobile, they said.

On a pilot basis, the paperless ticketing system in unreserved segment will cover 15 stations in the suburban section of Southern Railway. Railways plan to extend the paperless service in suburban section in all metros.

If you have additional ideas on how Railways can effectively use technology, please do share.

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