How to Do Current Booking in IRCTC App: A Step-by-Step Guide
Indian Railways is one of the most popular transportation modes in India. Millions of people travel by train every day for work, pilgrimage, leisure, and many other reasons. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is the official online portal for booking train tickets, checking train schedules, and other train-related services. One of the popular ways to book train tickets is through current bookings. In this blog post, we will guide you on how to do current booking in IRCTC app.
What is Current Booking in Indian Railways?
Current booking is a facility provided by the Indian Railways to help passengers to book train tickets at the last minute. It is available at the railway reservation counter and online through IRCTC app. The seats for the same are allotted on a first-come, first-served basis to the passengers who do not have any prior reservation but want to travel in a train.
Step-by-Step guide to doing current booking in IRCTC app:
Follow these simple steps to do current booking in the IRCTC app:
Step 1: Download and Install the IRCTC app
If you haven’t already, download the IRCTC app on your Android or iOS devices from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store, respectively. Once downloaded, install the app on your device and open it.
Step 2: Sign in to your account
Sign in to your account on the app using your credentials. If you do not have an account, register with IRCTC and create an account.
Step 3: Select your journey details
On the home screen of the app, enter your journey details, i.e., source station, destination station, travel date, and class of travel. Next, tap on the “Search Trains” button to proceed.
Step 4: Check Availability of Current Booking
Once you have entered your journey details, the app will show you the list of trains that are available for your travel. If there is availability of current booking on the train, it will be displayed alongside the seat availability for each class.
Step 5: Book a Current Ticket
If the current booking is available, then tap on the “Book Now” button below the current booking option. You will be redirected to the booking page, where you will be asked to enter the passenger details, such as name, age, gender, and ID card information.
Step 6: Make Payment and Confirm Booking
After entering the passenger details, you need to make payment for your booking. You can pay through various payment modes, such as debit card, credit card, net banking, or through e-wallets such as Paytm or PhonePe. Once payment is successful, your booking will be confirmed, and you will receive an SMS and e-mail with your ticket details.
Things to Keep in Mind While Doing Current Booking
Here are some things to keep in mind while doing current booking:
1. Availability of seats
Current booking is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, it is not guaranteed that you will get a seat on the train. There are chances that you may have to travel without a seat, so it is better to keep that in mind before booking.
2. Higher Fare
Current booking is done at a higher fare than regular booking. The fare may be up to 1.5 times of the regular ticket fare. Therefore, keep a budget in mind before opting for current booking.
3. Arrive early
If you want to do current booking at the railway reservation counter, you need to arrive early as the availability of seats is limited.
4. Carry Valid ID Card
It is mandatory to carry a valid ID card while traveling on a train in India. Make sure to carry your ID card, which was used at the time of booking, as it will be checked by the TTE during the journey.
Conclusion
Current booking is a useful facility provided by the IRCTC for people who need to travel on short notice. With the above guide, we hope you can now easily book a current ticket using the IRCTC app. However, it is important to keep in mind the points mentioned above before booking. Always check for availability before booking and make sure to carry your ID card while traveling.