IOC to sell railways' e-tickets

Chennai, May 8 (UNI) Indian Oil Corporation Limited and Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) have signed an agreement for sale of e-tickets through the former's retail network for a period of two years.

IOC Executive Director (Retail Sales) AMK Sinha and IRCTC Managing Director Pradeep Goel inked the pact recently, according to a release here today.

Mr Goel said there had been a latent demand in the country for ticket availability at the door-step. IRCTC had provided this facility in Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata and Mumbai. The facility of e-booking of railway tickets and its e-ticketing services would be directly available to mutually selected Indian Oil dealers and distributors, he added.

Mr Sinha said that initially, over 500 booking centres would be opened across the country. These centres would be authorised to book tickets as per the normal flow and would give identity card details of the traveller. The centre would also issue a receipt to the customer for the amount received, including service tax.

Tickets could be booked between 0500 hrs and 2330 hrs on all days at these centres. Payments could be made through direct debit using internet banking and cash/card options, the release said.

UNI