Payyanur (Kerala): Online booking for reserved train tickets is surging, with 88% of passengers now relying on digital platforms. In 2024, this figure stood at 81%. Conversely, those purchasing tickets through physical counters have dropped to just 12%, compared to 19% in 2024.

Online tickets are sold through IRCTC. The shift from counters to e-tickets accelerated with the arrival of various technical platforms, including the Rail Connect app. On average, 15.75 lakh reserved tickets are sold daily in India. Out of this, 13.88 lakh are booked via IRCTC, while only 1.90 lakh tickets are sold through counters.

Agencies tighten their grip

Agencies and companies registered with IRCTC, a Central Public Sector Undertaking, are seeing a spike in sales. It is estimated that agencies sell an average of 4 lakh reserved tickets daily, accounting for nearly 25% of current ticket sales. There are 25 Principal Service Providers (PSPs) in India, including Paytm, ConfirmTkt, Ixigo and Amazon. Under the B2B scheme, 38 companies provide reserved tickets, with sub-agents operating under them.

While IRCTC expands its list of service providers, passengers face a financial setback. In addition to the IRCTC service charge (₹17.70 for Sleeper and ₹35 for Third AC), passengers must also pay the booking agency's service fee. Furthermore, some apps also levy a payment gateway fee.