IRCTC to launch advance deposit scheme

Seeking to make it easier to book e-tickets, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has decided to launch a scheme allowing passengers to reserve seats against advance money kept with the corporation.

"We have decided to launch Rolling Deposit Scheme (RDS), a hassle-free e-ticket booking scheme in which the user will be able to book e-tickets against advance money kept with us," said a senior IRCTC official involved with the scheme.

Currently there are about 4.5 lakh train tickets booked daily through IRCTC website.

Under the Rolling Deposit Scheme, a user can deposit money in advance with IRCTC and use it as a payment option amongst the other payment options available on IRCTC website for paying money at the time of booking tickets.

"It will reduce the payment gateway time for the user as money will be deducted from the IRCTC and not from any bank as is the current practice, he said adding "there are about 10 per cent failure in e-ticket booking due to the banking server problem."

Besides IRCTC will also not levy the payment gateway charge for booking e-ticket through RDS.

He said one can join the RDS with a minimum amount of Rs 1500 also.

User can manage his account online and also top-up online. He can transfer the money from his bank account to IRCTC account and book tickets using that RDS account.