Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is the main official website to book general train ticket as well as tatkal quota train ticket online. Day-by-day online users to book tickets are getting increased and thereby IRCTC servers are also overloaded making ticket booking process more painful. So, recently IRCTC has launched its own payment scheme for booking e-tickets, avoiding the long hesitating procedure to pay through bank’s payment gateway.
About IRCTC e-Wallet Payment Scheme
IRCTC eWallet is a scheme under which user can deposit money in advance with IRCTC and can be used as payment option along with other payment options available on IRCTC for paying money at the time of booking tickets. Earlier, IRCTC users had only option to pay money at the time of booking e-tickets using various banks’ payment gateway, involving various steps and re-directions, thereby making ticket booking process time taking and at times resulting in with failed transactions.
Advantages of Using IRCTC eWallet scheme
IRCTC eWallet scheme provides following advantages:
- Hassle free and secure transactions.
- Precious booking time saved by eliminating payment approval cycle.
- Dependency on a specific bank is reduced, as when any of the provided banks go offline, you can still book tickets from your IRCTC eWallet account.
- Manage account online and top up online.
- Use friendly interface.
- Benefit of saving Payment Gateway charges per ticket. IRCTC charges only Rs 5 per transaction per ticket.
Salient features of IRCTC eWallet
Salient features of IRCTC eWallet are:
- User Authentication:IRCTC eWallet users will be verified and authenticated through their PAN card number in an Online Verification Process.
- Secured AccessIRCTC offers secure booking through IRCTC eWallet by providing Transaction Password/ PIN Number that is required to be entered for every booking done through IRCTC eWallet.
- Complete HistoryUser is provided with a separate link namely IRCTC eWallet that offers IRCTC eWallet Transaction history, IRCTC eWallet payment History & change transaction password options.
- Easy RefundIn case of ticket cancellation, the due refund will be credited to your IRCTC eWallet Account next day.
steps to register and book ticket through IRCTC eWallet
Easy steps to register and book ticket through IRCTC eWallet:
- Login to IRCTC with your existing IRCTC user id and password.
- Click the "IRCTC eWallet Registration" link under IRCTC eWallet Section in the "Plan my travel" page.
- Complete Verification process by providing PAN CARD No. and other details.
- Deposit one time registration fee of Rs.50/-(Inclusive of Service Tax of 14 %, Swachh Bharat Cess of 0.5 % and Krishi Kalyan Cess of 0.5%) online with any of the available payment options.
- Membership fee and Redemption is subject to change at the discretion of IRCTC.
- Credit the IRCTC eWallet account with the minimum deposit of Rs.100/- and top up with the required booking amount. Maximum amount permitted in user's account is Rs. 10,000.
- Pay ticket booking amount through IRCTC eWallet which is displayed as payment option along with other Banks.
Special Notes on IRCTC eWallet Payment Scheme
Please note:
- Registration Fee: Rs 50 (non-refundable)
- Transaction Charge: Rs 5 per transaction
- No cash refunds / No redemption allowed
- IRCTC eWallet balance can only be used for booking railway tickets.
Can IRCTC eWallet be Used During Tatkal Hours?
No. IRCTC eWallet Payment Scheme could not be used during tatkal hours i.e. from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. Moreover, the e-wallet is also unusable between 08:00 am to 10:00 am, which is timing mainly assigned for normal(general) ARP (advanced reservation period) tickets. Combining these we have seen it that this wallet could not be used from 08:00 am to 12:00 pm. However, if few tickets are available for reservation under tatkal quota even after 12:00 pm, one can simply use the IRCTC e-wallet and book the tatkal tickets faster. But for this one has to be lucky enough, as normally all tatkal tickets finishes within 20-30minutes during tatkal hours. Hence, keep in mind that IRCTC eWALLET registration and booking through eWALLET is not available from 08:00 am to 12:00 pm.
More Information on the Wallet Schene
Now, one can easily book IRCTC e-tickets using this e-Wallet service and it is quite faster than the normal booking process through other payment gateways. Also, in this case there is very rare chance of payment failures because the IRCTC online user is at the same site. The transaction charge (Rs 5 per transaction) is also very less comparing to that deducted by other payment gateways for IRCTC payments.
IRCTS’s e-Wallet Scheme could be one of the best initiatives started by IRCTC, but if it serves the purpose is still doubtful. Since IRCTC don’t allow e-tickets booking through eWallet during 08:00 am to 12:00 pm which is only the peak hours of ticket booking, particularly the Tatkal ticket booking period. Therefore, limiting the use of its eWallet during the hours when rail passengers need it eagerly, destroying the overall purpose of the eWallet. We can assume it that IRCTC will reconsider on its restriction on eWallet during the peak hours.
IRCTS’s e-Wallet Scheme could be one of the best initiatives started by IRCTC, but if it serves the purpose is still doubtful. Since IRCTC don’t allow e-tickets booking through eWallet during 08:00 am to 12:00 pm which is only the peak hours of ticket booking, particularly the Tatkal ticket booking period. Therefore, limiting the use of its eWallet during the hours when rail passengers need it eagerly, destroying the overall purpose of the eWallet. We can assume it that IRCTC will reconsider on its restriction on eWallet during the peak hours.
You can also share your views/comments/suggestions/experience on usage, advantages or disadvantages of newly launched IRCTC’s e-Wallet Payment Service Scheme using the comment box below.
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