Millions of people use the Indian Railways for their daily commuting. Add in the number of people who would be accompanying many of these passengers. It would be chaotic and tough to manage during the peak hours. To control such situations, the railways mandate that you need valid train tickets or platform tickets to enter the premises. But the long queues make it tougher for ticket purchase. Even the separate queues at most stations are not enough to make the process smooth. To make it easier, the railways have introduced online booking for platform tickets.
Where to Buy Platform Tickets Online?
You can easily buy railway platform tickets online through the UTS app.
- UTS stands for Unreserved Train Services.
- You can download it from the Google Play Store, Apple Store, or Windows App.
- The platform tickets purchased through the app are completely valid.
- You can choose a paperless ticket or opt for a physical ticket.
- To get the physical copy, get the printout from the ATVM/Co-TVM at the source railway station.
- To book online platform tickets you must be within a 2 km radius from the station you intend to enter or 15 metres away from the railway track.
- The UTS app can automatically detect your location once you have enabled it on your phone.
- The cost of the platform ticket is INR 10.
- The purchased ticket will be valid for 2 hrs.
- You cannot cancel the platform ticket.
The UTS is a super useful app that can be used for purchasing tickets for unreserved coaches or season tickets, checking the PNR status or train running status, etc.
How to Buy Platform Tickets Online?
Here are the steps to buy platform tickets through the UTS app.
- Download the application from the app store.
- Complete the registration by providing your details as needed and login to your account.
- Click on the ‘Platform Ticket’ icon at the top.
- Check the Paperless or Paper tab as required.
- Select the railway station name from the drop-down list.
- Enter the number of passengers and choose your payment mode from R-Wallet, UPI, credit card, debit card, or net banking.
- Click on Book Ticket and proceed to payment.
- The paperless ticket will be available as an e-ticket on your registered mobile number.
- The paper ticket will get a booking ID. You can use this ID at the station to get the physical copy.
- Type in your mobile number and booking ID into the ATVM/Co-TVM at the station to get the printout.
The R-Wallet is a Railway Wallet, which you can recharge using any of the payment modes mentioned above and use it for quicker booking. You will get an R-Wallet automatically when you register through the app, with an initial balance of zero.
The paperless platform ticket booking is currently available only in selected railway stations including various stations in the major cities such as Chennai, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, etc.
Conclusion
The beauty of this UTS app is that you can use it for both booking and cancelling tickets. However, the IRCTC cancellation charges are applicable here. The current reservation through the app enables last-minute ticket booking without the long queue. Moreover, this app will save you time from the hassle of IRCTC login troubles but there are no train offers to avail. Also, you can book train tickets on redRail by redBus, an IRCTC authorized train ticket booking platform.
FAQs
1. When to buy a platform ticket?
You can purchase the platform ticket up to 2 hrs before the arrival time. You may track the IRCTC chart preparation to confirm the schedule. This way, you can purchase and use the platform ticket within its valid period.
2. Is the UTS platform ticket valid?
Yes, UTS platform tickets are valid as it is developed by the CRIS or the Centre for Railway Information Systems.
3. How do I use the paperless platform ticket?
The paperless platform ticket will be available in the UTS app by clicking on the ‘Show Ticket’ icon. You can show it to the ticket checker when needed.
4. What happens if you don’t buy a platform ticket?
You will be penalised INR 250, for entering the platform without a valid platform ticket. Platform tickets are a means of managing crowds at railway stations. By purchasing a valid ticket you are ensuring that only the authorised people are entering the station.
5. Can I cancel the platform ticket?
No, you cannot cancel a platform ticket and there will be no refund either.
6. Can I check train seat availability using the UTS app?
No, UTS apps do not show the train seat availability. You can check it using the IRCTC app.