Faridabad railway authorities are targeting a rise in online ticket booking from the current 20–22% level to 30%, while encouraging QR-based payments at station counters and app-based monthly season ticket renewals. The drive is also facing reported disputes between passengers and counter staff at Palwal, Asawati and New Town stations over the shift to digital procedures.
According to a report by Navbharat Times – Faridabad, posters promoting online ticket booking have been placed at railway ticket counters to encourage passengers to use digital services. QR codes have also been installed at all counters so that travellers can make payments digitally instead of using cash.
Railway sources said the department is seeking to reduce cash transactions and increase the use of online booking and digital payment options. The railway administration believes that greater adoption of online ticketing could reduce queues at counters and make ticket purchases more convenient for passengers.
The push includes monthly season tickets, or MSTs, which are widely used by people who travel regularly by train. The report said passengers at Palwal, Asawati and New Town stations have faced situations involving counter employees over the process of obtaining MSTs. Passengers who prefer to buy or renew their passes at counters are reportedly being asked to use the digital process instead.
Commercial department officials said QR codes had been placed at every ticket counter as part of the effort to promote digital payments. However, the current online booking share remains between 20% and 22%, meaning the railway administration will need to persuade more passengers to adopt online services to reach the 30% target.
Rajesh Kumar, chief commercial inspector at Old Faridabad, explained that passengers can use the Rail One app to create or renew an MST. After downloading and logging into the app, users need to select the unreserved ticket option on the home page and then choose the season ticket and season ticket booking options.
The app provides options for creating a new pass or renewing an existing one. Passengers can select a monthly, quarterly, half-yearly or yearly validity period, enter their identity card information and other required details, and complete payment through options such as UPI. Once payment is completed, the MST is generated in the Rail One app.
The railway’s stated plan therefore combines three changes at the passenger interface: increasing online ticket sales, moving counter payments towards QR-based transactions and shifting season-ticket services to the Rail One app. The immediate operational challenge is to implement these changes without leaving regular passengers dependent on a process they may find difficult to access or understand.
