IRCTC iMudra — an online payment app which makes ticket booking, simpler and faster

Making payments for train tickets on IRCTC has gotten a lot easier and better for users. IRCTC has added the option to make the online payments through app i.e e-Wallet for all train bookings with the mobile app. Earlier user could only pay with their Debit/Credit card, Net banking or UPI, which used to take more time as it involved a longer payment cycle including, punching in card details and waiting for your OTP sent by the bank for verification for every transaction a user made.

IRCTC’s e-Wallet app, iMudra, is basically a scheme under which users can deposit money in advance with IRCTC and use it as a payment option along with other payment options available on IRCTC for paying money at the time of booking tickets. Using the fastest payment method in IRCTC allows users the following advantages:

1. Hassle free and secure transactions.
2. Precious booking time saved by eliminating payment approval cycle.
3. Benefit of saving payment gateway charges per ticket.
4. Manage account online and top-up online.
5. Dependency on a specific bank is reduced, as when the provided banks go offline, you can still book tickets with your IRCTC e-Wallet app.

IRCTC has added this e-ticketing arm to facilitate faster ticket booking including tickets under the tatkal quota. With this pillar contributing towards the well-being of its users, IRCTC’s e-Wallet app has many unique features:

1. User Authentication — IRCTC e-Wallet app users will be verified and authenticated through their PAN or AADHAAR card in an online verification process.
2. Secured Access — the fastest payment method in IRCTC, online payment app -iMudra, offers secure booking by providing Transaction Password/ PIN number that is required to be entered for every booking done through IRCTC e-Wallet app.
3. Complete History — user is provided with a separate link namely, IRCTC e-Wallet app that offers e-Wallet transaction history, e-Wallet payment history and e-Wallet change transaction.
4. Easy Refund — In case of ticket cancellation, the due refund will be credited to your IRCTC e-Wallet account next day.

An iMudra account comes with a digital wallet and a prepaid card. Whether you are booking tickets on IRCTC, purchasing goods on a nearby retail store or withdrawing money from the ATM, iMudra makes all these transactions easy, secure and seamless. It has also added the option to book cabs from the train booking app, to give users the option to plan and book their ride back home after the train journey is over.

For this, they have tied up with Ola cabs and added its API (application programming interface) within the IRCTC e-Wallet app, so users can book a taxi even if they do not have the original Ola app on their smartphone. However, payment through any of the e-Wallet app services is not available for the bookings with the Ola cabs yet. Let this not be of any worry to you since you will always have the option of paying through cash!

Surprisingly, IRCTC has not added a separate page for accessing the billing history. The e-Wallet app shows only when the user is booking a train ticket and is at the payments option page. To access e-Wallet features and book cabs, users need to update their IRCTC e-Wallet app to version 2.1.21 on their Android devices.

Finally knowing all that IRCTC’s e-Wallet app — iMudra has to offer, here are 6 easy steps through which you can book tickets:

1. Login to IRCTC with your existing IRCTC user id and password.
2. Click the “IRCTC e-Wallet registration” link under IRCTC e-Wallet section in the “Plan my travel” page.
3. Complete verification process by providing PAN or AADHAAR card details and other information required.
4. Deposit one-time registration fee of INR 50/- (excluding service tax) online with any of the available payment options.
5. Credit the IRCTC e-Wallet account with a minimum deposit fee of INR 100/- and top-up with the required booking amount.
6. Pay ticket booking amount through IRCTC e-Wallet app which is displayed as a payment option available.

With all this being said, the “online payment app”, iMudra is the best e-Wallet app for Android.