Lok Sabha Question No. 318 (STARRED), answered on 2016-12-07
Subject: Unreserved Tickets on e-Wallets
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Shrirang Appa Barne, VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 318 TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.12.2016

## UNRESERVED TICKETS ON E-WALLETS

- *318. SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE: SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Railways proposes to provide online ticket booking facility by various e-transaction modes under e-wallet;
- (b) if so, the details thereof and the benefits likely to accrue to the Railways and the passengers as a result thereof;
- (c) the time by which it is likely to be introduced;
- (d) whether the charges through e-wallet are likely to be lesser than other payment modes; and
- (e) if so, the details in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (e)  OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 318 BY SHRI SHRIRANG APPA BARNE AND SHRI VINAYAK BHAURAO RAUT TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 07.12.2016 REGARDING UNRESERVED TICKETS ON E-WALLETS

(a) to (c):  Railway is already providing online ticket booking facility through e-transaction modes/e-wallet as follows:

## (I)  Booking of reserved tickets:

The facility of online booking of reserved ticket has been provided through  Indian  Railway  Catering  and  Tourism  Corporation  (IRCTC) website.  The payment for booking of online reserved ticket through IRCTC  website is made  through various modes  of electronic banking,  viz.,  net  banking,  through  credit/debit  cards,  cash  cards and e-wallets.

## (II) Booking of unreserved tickets:

Unreserved ticket booking through mobile phone including journey,  season  and  platform  tickets  has  also  been  introduced  on pilot basis on some stations of Central, Western, Southern, Eastern, South  Central,  South  Eastern  and  Northern  Railways.  Under  this scheme, the passenger has to use Railway Wallet (R-Wallet) which is linked to passenger's mobile number as the payment instrument to book ticket through mobile application. Upon successful registration,  R-Wallet  with  zero  balance  is  created  without  any additional cost. Further, there is no transaction charge for booking of tickets using R-Wallet.

Further,  facility  of  renewal  of  season  tickets  through  IRCTC website has been provided for suburban train services on Western and Central Railways wherein payment is made through electronic mode.

The booking of tickets through various electronic modes facilitates efficiency in dispensation of tickets and helps passengers to  avoid  standing  in  queues  to  purchase  tickets  across  counters thereby  saving  their  time  and  money.  Use  of  e-Wallet  further increases the transaction  security  and  it  is  easy  to  use  since  one does  not  need  to  fill  in  card  numbers  and  passwords  every  time. E-Wallet  improves  success  rate  and  response  time  while  booking, simplifies reconciliation process as amount  is deducted from Prepaid instrument and reduces dependency on third party/banks for providing  net  banking/debit  card/credit  card  solution.    As  far  as Railway  is  concerned,  online  ticket  booking/electronic  mode  of payment avoids cash handling thus contributing to cashless economy and results in savings on account of infrastructure.

However,  proliferation  and  improvements  of  the  online  ticket booking systems including payment systems is an on-going process.

(d)  &  (e):  As  far  as  the  charges  for  various  e-transactions  modes including  e-wallets  pertaining  to  the  non-railway  institutions  are concerned,  they  are  decided  by  the  e-wallet  operators.    However, the charges levied for use of e-Wallet (of the IRCTC) are concerned, at ` 5/per transaction these are generally lower than the e-transaction modes of non-Railway institutions which are generally in  the  region  of ` 10/-  per  transaction  plus  service  tax  or  1.28%  to 1.80% per transaction plus service tax.

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