(Image source from: News9live.com)

The Indian Railways is expected to launch a comprehensive mobile app, dubbed the 'super app,' in the near future. This one-stop solution will handle multiple railway-related tasks, such as ticket booking, train tracking, and PNR status checking, and will be available by the end of the year. The app, being developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), will combine various railway services into a single platform, providing greater convenience for passengers. The government is focused on delivering a user-friendly experience through this app launch. The super app will integrate several existing railway-specific mobile apps, offering features like passenger and platform ticket booking, as well as train status checks. IRCTC will continue to serve as the interface between CRIS and passengers buying train tickets, and the integration between the super app and IRCTC is already underway. IRCTC sees the super app as an additional revenue stream.

The IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) is the leading platform for booking, modifying, and cancelling reserved rail tickets in India. In the fiscal year 2023-24, IRCTC reported a net profit of Rs 1,111.26 crore on a revenue of Rs 4,270.18 crore, with ticketing contributing to 30.33% of the revenue through the booking of more than 453 million tickets. Alongside IRCTC, commuters also use other apps and websites for various railway services, such as UTS for unreserved ticketing, IRCTC Air for air travel, and apps for train status, food delivery, complaints, and more. However, the launch of a unified super app by IRCTC will now provide a more efficient solution, eliminating the need for travellers to download and navigate multiple apps.