Railways set to introduce a ‘super’ mobile app for passenger services
Indian Railways is set to unveil a comprehensive mobile application by December, designed to merge a variety of passenger services into a single platform. The “Super App,” created by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), will act as an all-in-one solution for booking tickets, monitoring train schedules, ordering food, and accessing real-time travel updates.
This application aims to replace several existing official apps, thereby simplifying the user experience for passengers. It will be integrated with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and will continue to utilize IRCTC as the main interface connecting passengers with Indian Railways. Besides ticket booking, the Super App will offer features like ticket modifications, e-catering, train tracking, and suggestions for seats and coaches.
IRCTC views this app as a potential new revenue source, further reinforcing its current ticketing dominance. In the fiscal year 2023-24, IRCTC achieved 45.3 crore online ticket bookings, catering to over 80.25 crore passengers with e-tickets. The substantial revenue from online ticketing—accounting for more than 30% of IRCTC’s ₹4,270.18 crore total revenue for the year—suggests that the launch of the Super App is likely to enhance earnings.
CRIS is developing the application with a budget of under ₹100 crore, to improve the digital experience for India’s more than 100 million railway passengers. The app will also support private booking services that depend on IRCTC’s data, further cementing IRCTC’s position as a crucial player in the travel booking landscape.
The launch of the Super App is part of Indian Railways’ larger initiative to modernize operations and elevate service standards. With this streamlined platform, passengers will benefit from a one-stop solution, making it easier to plan, track, and enjoy their travel experiences.
