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IRCTC

Irctc
irctc
The Indian Railway Ministry’s initiative, Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), has revolutionised train travel in India. The IRCTC operates under the concept of all under one roof and offers services such as IRCTC rail tour packages, spanning hotel bookings, tourist trains, car rentals, and online rail ticket bookings or e-ticketing. It also has a 24/7 contact centre to help address issues such as tour bookings, train reservations, availability of seats, and train timings.  IRCTC, sometime people also pronounce it IRTC, is responsible for catering, tourism and online ticketing operations of the Indian railways.

Train Ticket Reservations:
IRCTC.co.in allows you to train tickets booking online, making the process of railways reservations instantaneous and simple. IRCTC provides two options − i−tickets and e−tickets. If you pick the i-ticket, the rail ticket will be delivered to your doorstep by courier. However this service is available only in select cities across India. If you opt for the E-ticket, you can save it on your computer and take a print out. IRCTC has recently launched a new medium for booking tickets called IRCTC mobile. IRCTC Mobile enables you to book your tickets, as well as, perform various other services through your mobile phone. In order to avail of this service, you must use a java enabled phone or a smart phone with a GPRS connection. Tickets ordered using this medium will be delivered to your postal address within three days.
IRCTC General, Tatkal & Ladies quota Booking:
IRCTC has come up with a ‘ladies quota’ from 2011 and with its different bank tie-ups also offers frequent discount schemes on specific credit and debit cards. Perhaps, the most discerning feature of IRCTC is the scheme of ‘tatkal’ booking, which is meant for travellers who have not booked in advance and find that tickets have been sold out. The tatkal booking service is available for all classes of travel with the exception of AC first and executive class. There is a particular number of seats under tatkal quota and tickets are given on first come first serve basis. To use this service, one has to check for ticket availability. If tickets are available, one can buy the same through IRCTC in lieu of a premium payment. However, cancellations or modifications are not allowed on tatkal tickets. Sale of tatkal e-tickets open just a day before the journey excluding the date of departure. The timings for Tatkal bookings have also changed. Now bookings start at 10 am instead of 8 am.. IRCTC also has provisions for discounted tickets for senior citizens. Payment modes include cash cards, debit cards, and credit cards through IRCTC Mobile app and other online mediums.
The Ministry of Railways has set up the IRCTC (Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation) for transferring all responsibility for tourism and catering to this new corporation. This has been done to ensure professionalism and upgradation of service through private-public collaborations.
Tourism via railways will be the source of high growth in this sector by coordinating with other agencies such as tour operators, hotels, travel agents etc. On the plate is a dynamic strategy of marketing in collaboration with private and public agencies such as hoteliers, tour operators, transporting agencies, travel agents and state agencies.
Indian Railways has humungous potential for ICRTC as it carries along 13 million passengers daily. The mission of IRCTC is to enhance services of customers in railway hospitality, catering, travel and tourism with best practices of the industry.
  • To be totally friendly to customers and driven by innovation, technology changes and development of human resources.
  • Using innovative practices of marketing and vending of quality products to increase productivity of man power and optimize resources.
  • Upgradation and consolidation of services of catering in the organized sectors.
  • To maximize returns on investment by enhancing areas of core competencies and enhance opportunities of business via efficient partnership between public and private agencies.
  • Adopt ethical and strong work culture by team work, as well as reposition the Railways in the emerging economy.
  • Develop superior standards of work ethics, cost control and quality management.
  • Concern for heritage and environment.
  • Tourism:
Ever since the set up of the IRCTC, tourism in India has witnessed a boom. They have developed   dynamic strategy of marketing by collaborating with tour operators and state agencies. They provide exclusive tour packages all around the country. IRCTC provides arrangements for charter of full train coaches and cabins and programs for reserved births through trains for promoting tourism. Already, 50,000 passengers have benefited from the program.
  • Internet Reservations:
There has been a tremendous demand for ticket availability at the door step. IRCTC has already started these services in Mumbai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai. They are aiming to extend these services to Ahmadabad, Hyderabad and Pune in the near future. After this, the service will be expanded to other cities. The relevant website for internet booking is www.irctc.co.in.
  • Food Plazas:
The IRCTC has planned to set up hundreds of food plazas across the various stations in the country. These are multi cuisine kiosks catering to the vast numbers of passengers. The food plazas will have air conditioned ambience, contemporary décor, and 24x 7 operations for the convenience of passengers. They charge competitive, market driven pricing.
  • Call Centers:
The IRCTC has opened a call center. Any customer can dial from anywhere in the country to get information on Indian railways.
  • Other Services:
The IRCTC time table is a comprehensive Indian Railways time table, which provides all information about running trains. Using the website, one can access IRCTC login train timings, which provide information on IRCTC train schedule.

IRCTC - Tourist Trains and Tour Packages:
IRCTC offers a plethora of special tourist trains and tour packages aimed at covering the most popular destinations across the country. Here is a quick look at some of the most frequently used services in this domain. However, for more detailed information, you will need to log in to the IRCTC website.
Bharat Darshan:
This IRCTC offering spans almost all the major tourist destinations across the country. Here is a rough route network:
 IRCTC
irctc

    Route: Chandigarh - Ambala - Kurukshetra - Karnal - Panipat - Delhi Cantt. - Jaipur - Agra - Gwalior - Jhansi - Bina - Bhopal (Habibganj) - Manmad (Shirdi) - Reningunta (Tirupati) - Rameshwaram - Madurai - Kanyakumari and back to Chandigarh via Bhopal.
    Fares: The package costs approximately 6,200 INR
    Duration: The duration is about 12 days.

Golden Triangle of South India:
This IRCTC package takes you across Bangalore, Mysore and Ooty. The entire circuit is known as the Golden Triangle of South India. The route is pretty simple and it is as follows:

    Route: Bangalore - Mysore - Ooty
    Fares: 7,500 INR approximately
    Duration: The trip lasts for roughly 7 days.

Steam Express (Fairy Queen):
IRCTC brings history to life! The Steam Express recreates an old world charm and chugs along some of the most historically important destinations in the country. The route network is something like this:

    Route: Delhi - Alwar - Sariska - Alwar - Delhi
    Fares: Fares range from about 3,200 INR to 10,200 INR
    Duration: About 2 Days.

DHR (Darjeeling Himalayan Railway) Joyride:
Many people visiting IRCTC enquire about DHR. Well, this one has three parts, namely Morning Tour, Afternoon Tour and Heritage Toy Train Safari:

    Morning Tour: This tour is from Darjeeling to Ghoom and back. Passengers also get to check out the DHR Museum at Ghum. The fare is about 360 INR.
    Afternoon Tour: The route and fare is the same as above.
    D.H.R. Heritage Toy Train Safari: This toy train safari passes through the verdant woodlands of Mahanadi Reserve Forest sitting atop an altitude of about 1,404 ft. The fare is approximately 500 INR

Indian Railways Luxury Trains:
IRCTC pampers its patrons no end when it comes to luxury trains. Here is a brief look at four of the top offerings.
The Deccan Odyssey:
IRCTC brings royalty to life through the Deccan Odyssey. You get to travel in style across quite a few very well known destinations in the country. The route network goes something like this:

    Route: Mumbai, Sindhudurg, Tarkarli, Goa, Kolhapur, Aurangabad, Ellora, Chandrapur (Tadoba Wildlife), Wardha (Sevagram), Ajanta and Nasik.
    Fares: It will cost you about 1,33,875 INR.
    Duration: About 8 days.

Heritage on Wheels:
Explore Rajasthan’s rich legacy aboard IRCTC's magnificent 'Heritage on Wheels'. The route covered is as follows:

    Route: Jaipur-Bikaner-Tal Chhapar & Shekhawati-Jaipur.
    Fares: The fare starts at about 3,750 INR per night.
    Duration: About 4 days.

Maharajas’ Express:
This is perhaps the most well known luxury train initiative by IRCTC. This train is also probably the most luxurious way of completing the Golden Triangle Tour of Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. The route is roughly as follows:

    Route: Jaipur, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Ranthambore National Park, Chittorgarh, Keoladeo National Park and Agra.
    Fares: Log in to the website of ‘Palace on Wheels’ for fares.
    Duration: About 8 days.

Heritage on Wheels:
This one is probably the most lavish venture by IRCTC. In fact, it is supposedly India’s most expensive luxury train and covers many of the popular tourist destinations in India. IRCTC’s Maharajas’ Express offers a choice of five different packages. Check out the route mentioned below:

    Route: The route depends upon the package you choose. The packages are:
        Heritage of India
        Treasures of India
        Gems of India
        Indian Panorama
        Indian Splendor
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Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation is a subsidiary of the Indian Railways that handles the catering, tourism and online ticketing operations of the Indian railways, with around 5,50,000 to 6,00,000 bookings everyday is the world's second busiest. It's tagline is "Lifeline of the nation

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