Booking railway tickets has become more convenient for passengers.
The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has introduced a voice booking feature by integrating AskDisha 2.0, an AI-powered voice assistant, into its platform.
Now, passengers can book tickets just by speaking, without needing to type anything.
What is AskDisha 2.0?
AskDisha 2.0 is IRCTC’s virtual voice chatbot designed to simplify railway ticket booking. It is available on both the IRCTC website and mobile app.
The assistant can understand and respond in Hindi and English, making it user-friendly for a wider audience.
How to Use AskDisha 2.0?
Here’s how passengers can use the voice assistant for booking:
Log in to the IRCTC website or mobile app.
Tap on the AskDisha icon on the homepage and say “Ticket Book”.
The assistant will then ask for travel details like:
Station name
Date of journey
Travel class, etc.
It will provide a list of available trains, timings, and seat details.
Once you select the train and class, it will verify your details and take you to the payment page.
After successful payment, your ticket will be booked and the PNR number will be sent to you via SMS and email.
Why Is This Feature Important?
This voice-based feature is especially helpful for people who are not comfortable typing or using digital platforms. It offers a fast, easy, and interactive way to book tickets using voice commands.
This is also a step forward in the Digital India Mission, making railway services smarter and more inclusive for everyone.
Fare Hike from July 1: What You Need to Know
Starting July 1, 2025, Indian Railways will increase fares for long-distance mail and express trains:
Non-AC class: Fare will rise by 1 paisa per kilometer.
AC class: Fare will rise by 2 paisa per kilometer.
This increase will apply to long-distance trains across India.
However, there is no change in fares for:
Suburban trains
Monthly Season Tickets (MSTs)
Also, ordinary second-class passengers traveling more than 500 kilometers will pay 0.5 paisa extra per kilometer.
