In order to promote digital transactions and ease of purchase of local train tickets by commuter from stations excluding halt stations mobile ticketing app was introduced in N.F. Railway on October 25 this year and it is gaining popularity across N.F. Railway.
Latest figures indicate that more than 300 users are daily purchasing tickets by downloading the App on their mobile. One can easily purchase platform tickets, season tickets and unreserved train tickets from any station to any destination without standing in queue by downloading the App in his or her mobile. Passenger has to commence the journey within three hours from booking of the ticket. Renewal of season tickets can also be done easily by using this app.
As per the built-in system, any person of age 17 years or more can use the App by registering and agreeing to the terms & conditions. Registration can be done through mobile phone application or website (https://www.utsonmobile.indianrail.gov.in). The application is free to download. The passenger has to get registered by providing his/her mobile number, name, password, gender and date of birth. After successful registration, an SMS is sent to the user with login-id and password and zero-balance R-Wallet is created without any additional cost.
The minimum recharge value is Rs.100 and multiples of Rs.100 which can grow up to Rs. 10,000/-. The smart phone should be GPS enabled and the passenger should have money in their Railway Wallet (R-Wallet) or use Net-banking/Debit/Credit card facility in order to book paperless tickets. However, booking a ticket using utsonmobile application inside the station premises is not permissible as a passenger should enter the Railway premises after purchasing the ticket. While booking the ticket, the passenger current geo location is checked using phone GPS and the ticket is booked if the passenger is not inside the Railway station premises and inside the train. Journey tickets can be booked 20 meters away from station and within 5 kms of journey commencing station. Season tickets can be booked 10 days in advance.
The passenger can travel without taking hardcopy of the ticket. Refund process is an elaborate and well-defined mechanism to ensure that the correct amount is refunded to right account.