IRCTC
IRCTC stands for Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. It is a subsidiary of Indian Railways and is responsible for online ticket booking, catering, and tourism services. IRCTC was established in 1999 and is headquartered in New Delhi, India.
IRCTC's online ticketing platform, called the IRCTC Next Generation e-Ticketing System, allows users to book train tickets, check train availability, and track the status of their bookings. The platform has also introduced various features such as e-wallets, cancellation and refund facilities, and the option to book meals and accommodation on trains.
Apart from ticketing services, IRCTC also offers catering services to passengers through its e-catering services. Passengers can pre-book meals and have them delivered to their seats during their train journey. IRCTC also manages a chain of restaurants under the brand name "Food Plaza" and "Jan Aahar" across various railway stations in India.
IRCTC also provides tourism services through its website, offering various tour packages and hotel bookings for destinations across India. The corporation has also introduced various luxury trains, such as the Maharaja Express and the Buddhist Circuit Tourist Train, which offer a unique travel experience to passengers
On Sunday, Charbagh railway station in Lucknow witnessed a massive crowd of devotees traveling to the Kumbh Mela. The arrival of the Ganga Gomti Express overwhelmed the station's infrastructure. GRP and RPF personnel attempted to manage the situation, but the sheer number of passengers caused significant disruptions. Similar... overcrowding occurred with the arrival of the Lucknow Prayagraj Intercity and Bareilly Prayagraj Express trains. Passengers bypassed designated pathways, boarding trains directly from the tracks. This resulted in overcrowding on all train carriages, causing inconvenience to those with reserved tickets.Read More...
Following a car accident on an incomplete bridge in Bareilly, the Railway Board has banned vehicle movement on the access roads of under-construction ROBs and RUBs. Executive Engineer Anupam Singh sent a letter to all GMs instructing them to allow traffic only after receiving a completion certificate from senior railway... officers. This is to prevent accidents on incomplete elevated structures and ROBs/RUBs. Signage must be installed, roads closed, and all safety measures implemented. The incident highlighted issues at an incomplete ROB near Kapurpura railway crossing on the Muzaffarpur-Kapurpura rail section. The incomplete ROB lacks lighting, hindering the completion of the Madhaul-Lasgaripur bypass and the doubling of the Muzaffarpur-Sugauli rail section. The NHIA has requested a mega traffic block from the railways to install girders. The access road to the ROB is only 80% complete and in poor condition, particularly the section under the ROB connecting Sahabajpur village to Kapurpura station.Read More...
An alert has been issued to control crowds at Charbagh railway station in Lucknow during the Maghi Purnima snan (holy bath). GRP and RPF personnel will be deployed on platforms and will constantly monitor train carriages. CCTV cameras will also monitor platforms. This action follows an incident where pilgrims... occupied the engine driver's seat of an overcrowded train to Varanasi. A similar incident occurred on Friday night at Charbagh station, where passengers, unable to find space on the Bareilly-Prayagraj Express, spilled onto the tracks. The alert emphasizes maintaining order and ensuring smooth train operations.Read More...
Due to the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, massive crowds are overwhelming the city, exceeding expectations even beyond the main bathing days. On Sunday, severe traffic jams persisted for hours on all roads leading into Prayagraj. The Sangam Railway Station had to be temporarily closed due to overcrowding. ... Over 1.57 crore pilgrims had bathed in the Sangam by 8 PM on Sunday, with a total of 43.57 crore pilgrims having bathed between January 13th and February 9th. The police attributed the jams to the sheer number of vehicles and passengers trying to get as close as possible to the Sangam. Parking further from the mela area is being utilized (e.g., Nehru Park and Bela Kachar, with capacities of 20-25,000 vehicles), while closer parking lots (IER and Baghaara) with capacities of only 4-5,000 vehicles, fill up first. The North Central Railway implemented a one-way system at Prayagraj Junction for passenger safety and ease of movement, with entry from the City side and exit towards Civil Lines, utilizing directional passenger shelters and various ticketing options.Read More...
Due to the International Kolkata Book Fair concluding on Sunday, February 9th, Kolkata Metro will operate a special service on the Sealdah-Sector V route. The first metro from Sealdah will depart at 2:15 PM, and from Sector V at 2:25 PM. A total of 74 services (up and down) will... run. The last metro from Sealdah departs at 9:35 PM, and from Sector V at 9:40 PM.Read More...
Bengaluru Metro fares increased by approximately 50% on February 9, 2025, as announced by the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL) on February 8th. The hike follows a recommendation from the Fare Fixation Committee. The new fare structure ranges from Rs 10 (0-2km) to Rs 90 (above 25km), up... from a previous maximum of Rs 60. Peak and off-peak hour pricing has been introduced, with a 5% discount offered during off-peak hours on Smart cards. Smart card users also receive a 10% discount on Sundays and national holidays. The minimum Smart card balance has increased from Rs 50 to Rs 90. The fare revision is mandated by section 37 of the Metro Railway O&M Act.Read More...
Chennai Metro Rail will begin tunnelling work between Kolathur and Villivakkam stations on Corridor 5 of its Phase II project within two weeks. This 5km underground stretch, delayed over a year, is the only underground section of Corridor 5, which otherwise runs elevated. The Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) 'Kurinji' is... already in place at Kolathur. The initial tunnelling phase will cover 500 meters from the Kolathur shaft to the Kolathur station. The project, costing ₹63,246 crore, includes three corridors (3, 4, and 5). Corridors 3 and 4 are already undergoing tunnelling. The completed Corridor 5 will include five underground stations between Kolathur and Villivakkam: Kolathur Junction, Srinivasa Nagar, Villivakkam Metro, Villivakkam Bus Terminus, and Villivakkam MTH Road, improving connectivity to southern areas.Read More...
Kochi Metro's Phase 2, nicknamed the Pink Line, extends from JLN Stadium station to Infopark via Kakkanad. The project's estimated cost is ₹1,957.05 crore, and construction is currently underway.Read More...
Indian Railways is facing a severe staff shortage due to a lack of new recruitment and a large number of experienced employees retiring. To address this, the Northeast Frontier Railway zone is temporarily re-employing retired staff. This affects five divisions: Tinsukia (778), Lumding (606), Rangiya (65), Alipurduar (68), Katihar (6),... and Maligaon (101). These retirees will fill vacancies across various departments, including engineering (555), signals & telecom (396), mechanical (278), operations (198), and workshops. Applications are open from February 7th to 28th, 2024, via a specified portal. The re-employment is for two years, with salaries based on their previous pay minus pension.Read More...
Loco pilots and their families in Mangaluru protested at Mangaluru Junction railway station on February 8th against excessive workload and denial of leave. They demanded an 8-hour workday for goods trains and 6 hours for passenger trains, along with the removal of a CCRC official. Protesters cited instances of... leave denial even in family emergencies, leading to salary deductions. The All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) plans to submit a memorandum to the DRM; if demands aren't met, they will abstain from work. Accompanying news items include the 75th birthday and silver jubilee of episcopal ordination of Bishop Dr. Gerald Issac Lobo in Udupi; Sikkim CM and Karnataka Deputy CM taking a holy dip in the Triveni Sangam during Maha Kumbh; Manipur CM Biren Singh's resignation; a drowning incident in Mangaluru; successful removal of a foreign body from a child in Mangaluru; water storage beginning at Jakribettu barrage benefiting Mangaluru; and a lorry crashing into a bus stop in Mangaluru.Read More...