Though there is an increasing trend of online booking and usage of credit cards in the country for booking railway tickets via online, cash on delivery mode is also used by many after making a purchase. Now like any other product, you can order a train ticket and pay for it once it is delivered.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is providing the cash on delivery option for the very first time to those who buy railway tickets online. This new service is focused on targeting customers who are hesitant to use their credit cards or for those who do not have net-banking accounts or credit cards. It will also be useful for those who are concerned with using their banking credentials on online portals.
Regarding the new service, an official of IRCTC stated that a customer has to simply book the train tickets online and make the payments for the same when the tickets are delivered at the specified address. This scheme has been launched on a pilot basis and it will be available in over 200 cities across the nation initially.
Notably, the travelers will have to book for the tickets at least five days before the journey date as it will take some time for the tickets to reach them to avoid last minute trouble. It is claimed that this move by IRCTC is an attempt taken to move people away from the ticket counters and decongest the booking windows in railway stations.
The delivery fees that will be charged on buyers choosing the cash on delivery payment mode while they book tickets are similar to the IRCTC I-tickets. It is Rs 40 for the delivery of a sleeper class ticket and Rs 60 for every AC class ticket.
The cash on delivery scheme will be handled by Anduril Technologies via their website and their application BookMyTrain.com will be authorized to provide the cash on delivery services.
