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Mumbai Local Trains May Soon Offer WhatsApp-Based Ticket Booking: Indian Railways Eyes Major Digital Upgrade

Mumbai: In a big push to improve daily commuting in Mumbai and other metro cities, Indian Railways is working on a chat-based ticket booking system for local trains, likely through WhatsApp. The move is aimed at making unreserved ticketing faster, easier, and completely digital.

According to railway officials, a meeting was recently held with tech firms to discuss the implementation of this system. Once the technical requirements and security aspects are finalised, the tender process will begin.

This initiative is part of the Digital India mission, which aims to reduce dependency on cash transactions and physical ticket counters. Currently, about 25% of local train commuters use digital methods for ticketing, and the number is growing steadily.

In metro systems like Mumbai Metro, 67% of passengers already use WhatsApp to book tickets. Commuters scan a QR code at the station, send a “Hi” message, and choose ticketing options directly in chat. After online payment, a digital ticket is issued instantly.

The same model is now being considered for suburban railway systems, including the Mumbai local trains, where lakhs of passengers travel daily.

However, there are challenges. The misuse of QR-based tickets through the existing UTS app has raised concerns, prompting officials to focus on stronger safeguards and authentication in the new system.

If implemented successfully, the WhatsApp ticketing system could transform the way Mumbaikars buy train tickets—eliminating queues, reducing cash handling, and making travel more seamless than ever before.

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