"Service not available" This is the response that most of us get when we try to book railway ticket at IRCTC website. Now there is an easier way to book ticket. The IRCTC have launched Rail Ticket Booking through short messaging services (SMS) as a pilot project. At present Interbank Mobile Payment System (IMPS) is necessary for booking the ticket while further payment options including direct debit, payment through Debit/Credit/Prepaid card and internet banking are being explored.
Mobile Money Identifier (MMID) is also necessary for making payment through mobile. MMID is a seven digit random number issued by the bank upon registration. Remitter (customer who wants to send money) and Beneficiary (customer who wants to receive the money) should have this MMID for doing this interbank funds transfer.
To book tickets through
- User must have an account on IRCTC (www.irctc.co.in)
- User should have MMID & OTP (One Time Password) for IMPS Transaction
- Same Mobile Number Should be registered with Bank and IRCTC.
Booking Process for General Quota Ticket
STEP-1: Send below SMS with Journey & Passenger Information to 139.
Type
(Upto 6 Passengers) and send message to 139.
BOOK 12420 NDLS GZB 0107 Shard TK 35 M Remya 20 F
If the format sent is valid, you would receive a response message from 139 that look alike: Trans Id: 34004567 Ticket Amount: 120 IRCTC SC: 11.24 Total Amount: 131.24 Seat: AVAILABLE -0095. For Payment SMS PAY <34004567> IMPS IRCTCUserID to 139 to book ticket.
STEP-2: For payment, Send SMS with below syntax to 139.
PAY
For Example:
PAY 340045667 IMPS 98453672 453289 Sharad
Confirm message will be received from 139 on successful booking of the ticket. Your ticket booked successfully: PNR is: 2345678901 Ticket No: 0672261674 Booking Status: Sharad CONFIRM S2 49 Remya CONFIRM S2 50 Ticket Amt: 120.0 SC: 11.24 Src: New Delhi Dst: Ghaziabad Date of Journey: 01/07/2013 Sch Dep 12:30 hrs
