As we all know that, Millions of people travel by train every day in India. During festivals and wedding seasons, the number of passengers increases even more. Earlier, people had to go to the ticket counter to book a reserved seat. However, with India going digital, the demand for online tickets has grown rapidly. Now, more people book tickets online compared to those who buy them from counters. However, online tickets cost more than counter tickets.
Online Train Tickets Cannot Be Booked Without an IRCTC Account
If you have ever booked a train ticket online, you might have noticed that online tickets are more expensive than counter tickets. Train tickets can only be booked online through IRCTC. Even if you use a third-party app, you still need an IRCTC (Indian Railways App) account to complete the booking. Without an IRCTC account, online ticket booking is not possible. When booking an online ticket, IRCTC charges a convenience fee and GST. The convenience fee goes directly to IRCTC, while the GST amount is paid to the government.
Why Are Online Tickets More Expensive Than Counter Tickets?
Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thackeray) leader Sanjay Raut raised a question in the Rajya Sabha regarding the higher cost of online tickets compared to counter tickets.
In response, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw explained that IRCTC spends a significant amount of money on maintaining, upgrading, and expanding the online ticketing system. To cover these expenses, IRCTC charges passengers a convenience fee when booking tickets online.
80% of Passengers Book Tickets Online
The Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that IRCTC has become a highly preferred platform for booking online train tickets across the country. He mentioned that currently, 80% of all train tickets are booked online. As, the passengers find this application very convenient.
The minister also highlighted that online ticket booking has eliminated the need for passengers to wait in long queues at ticket counters. This not only saves their time but also reduces travel expenses for reaching the ticket counter.
Online Ticket Booking is More Convenient Than Counter Tickets
Booking train tickets online is much more convenient than buying them from a counter. It helps save a lot of time and avoids the hassle of standing in long queues. With online booking, you can book your train ticket anytime from anywhere.
Additionally, if you need to cancel your ticket for any reason, you can do it easily through the online platform. Overall, online ticket booking is far more convenient and efficient compared to counter ticket booking.
