UNRESERVED TICKETING SYSTEM
(UTS)
Comprehensive digital platform for unreserved train journey tickets with 24×7 booking facility across India
Challenges We Address
- ⚡24×7 booking facility for unreserved train journey tickets
- 🌍To deliver ticketing at the remote corners of the country
- 👥To provide a ticketing system for masses (small distance travellers, daily commuters, suburban passengers, etc)
- 🚀To enable Railways in prompt and speedy issuance of tickets
- 📊A challenging task to facilitate the ticketing needs of Unreserved journey passengers (Twenty one million approx. daily) on Indian Railways network
Our Goals
🎯To provide a hassle free and convenient way of ticket issuance mechanism with added transparency and accountability
🏢To provide a system having Centralised Change Management System and Centralised Accounting System
⚡To adopt leading technologies and serve commuters with quick ticketing experience resulting in queue size reductions
💳To promote Digital India and Cashless Economy through Mobile ticketing, Kiosks, integration of e-wallets, PoS(Point of Sale) machines at Counters, Automatic Ticket Vending Machine(ATVM), Currency Operated Ticket Vending Machine(CoTVM), etc
🚀The one stop objective of UTS system is to exploit the latest technologies and alleviate the plight of common man who stands in long queues for ticket bookings
UTS at Railway Counters
🚂Started as a pilot project in August 2002 on Northern Railway
🔄Precursor was Self Printing Ticket Machines (SPTMs) - a standalone system phased out with UTS arrival
🏗️Central hardware architecture supported with station level servers for business continuity during network failures
🖥️Booking office operators dispensed tickets using dumb terminals and dot matrix printers
🌐Improved network reliability led to newer design with thin clients for operators
👥Zonal Railways responsible for manning UTS counters and running services
🛡️CRIS maintains application and ensures business continuity at system level
🎫Nearly 100 ticket types sold based on class of travel, concessions, and season tickets
📋Business rules and fares determined by Ministry of Railways policies
Mobile Ticketing
📱Launched on 22nd April 2015 with paperless ticket option for Android and Windows smartphones
🍎iOS app launched on 8th February 2018
🏪App named "UTS" available on Google Play Store, Windows Phone Store, and Apple App Store
🌐Website www.utsonmobile.indianrail.gov.in for registration and R-wallet creation/recharge
💳Payment options: Credit/debit cards and Netbanking
💰Integrated e-wallets: Paytm, Mobikwik, and Freecharge
🎫Both paperless and paper tickets can be booked
📍Railway tracks and surrounding areas are Geo-Fenced to prevent booking in Railway premises
🛡️Prevents revenue leakage by stopping ticket booking when TTE/TC is seen at platform or in train
🇮🇳Mobile application proliferated at Pan India level
🚂Journey, platform, and season tickets can be booked through the app
🌍Inter-zonal mobile ticketing enabled in all zones
CoTVM
🪙Cash-Coin & Smart Card operated ticket vending machine concept evolved to prevent queue standing
⚡Promotes self-service based quick dispensing of tickets
🚂Operational across 9 Zonal Railways: NR, CR, WR, SR, SWR, SCR, ER, SER, and SECR
🤖Unmanned kiosk operated by passengers themselves
🎫Features: Issuing Journey tickets, Platform tickets, and renewing Season tickets
💳Can recharge Smart cards used in ATVMs (Automatic Ticket Vending Machines)
💵Payment forms: Coins, bank notes, and smart cards
🪙Accepts specific coins: Rs.5 and Rs.10
💴Accepts bank notes: Rs.5, Rs.10, Rs.20, Rs.50, and Rs.100 of Gandhi series
❌Does not accept currency notes with Ashoka Chakra Emblem
JTBS
📅Jan Sadharan Ticket Booking Sewa (JTBS) scheme launched in January 2007
🏢Ticketing services for unreserved sector outsourced as per Railway Board's policy
💼Outlets provide self-employment opportunities
💰Operators offered nominal commission per passenger
🖥️Terminals at these counters connect to central servers for ticket issuance
ATVM
🤖Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVM) operated using smart cards and touch screens
🏙️First introduced in Mumbai in October 2007
📈Success led to proliferation to other metropolitan cities
🏙️Currently commissioned in: Chennai, Secunderabad, Delhi, and Kolkata
🚂Operational across 14 Zonal Railways: NR, NCR, NWR, NER, CR, WR, WCR, SR, SWR, SCR, ER, SER, ECOR, and SECR
YTSK
📅Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra (YTSK) scheme launched in August 2014
🏢Ticketing services for unreserved sector outsourced as per Railway Board's policy
💼Outlets provide self-employment opportunities
💰Operators offered commission per passenger
🖥️Terminals at these counters connect to central servers for ticket issuance
Benefits
Convenience - Customer convenience/choice for purchase of ticket through different modes of Sale, reducing booking counters at stations
Self Employment - Jan Sadharan Ticket Booking Sewa (JTBS) & YTSK (Yatri Ticket Suvidha Kendra) scheme. These outlets provide self-employment opportunities and the operators are offered a commission per passenger.
Scheme for agents - A scheme has been launched for outside parties/agents namely Station Booking Agents (STBA) who work over UTS counters in Railway premises and get a commission based on collections.
Digital Payment - UTS on Mobile Project has been launched for Android, Windows and iOS phones. Payments can be done through credit/debit card and Netbanking. Various e-wallets have been integrated with the App.
Mobile Application - The mobile application covers 9120 stations (6333 stations as source). Appx. 2.34 lakhs tickets are booked daily, covering appx. 14.21 lakh passenger travel & generating revenue of appx. Rs 1.33 Crore
Milestones Achieved
8M+
Tickets Sale per day
Daily ticket sales across India
500+
Passenger Earning per day (in Millions)
Daily revenue generation
20+
Passengers Travelled per day (in Millions)
Daily passenger count
12K+
Point of Sales (PoS) UTS Counters
Active UTS counters nationwide
3K+
Automatic Ticket Vending Machines
ATVMs across major cities
300+
Cash-Coin & Smart Card operated Ticket Machine
CoTVMs operational