IRCTC to team up with travel agents

The IRCTC Travellers’ Executive Lounge already registers an average footfall between 80 and 100. They are now planning to tie up with travel agents.

PEDEN DOMA BHUTIA If

you are waiting for a train at New Delhi Railways Station, you can just check in to the IRCTC Travelers’ Executive Lounge instead of waiting outside. A payment of 300 during check in guarantees you 3 hours of bliss, including a buffet meal, tea, coffee, soft drinks, free WiFi access for 3 hours, luggage racks, and newspapers and magazines. And if the stay extends for more than 3 hours then one can extend it by paying 125 for every additional hour.

Recliners for night time relaxation, televisions for train information display as well as news and sports updates; business centre; lockers; shoe shiners are also available for patrons. Setting a new precedence in rail travel, the lounge sets the bar high with international standard facilities and services that fall nothing short of what months to construct this lounge and the total investment was around 4.6 crore. On a pilot basis, the Railway Board approved the project and after the completion, seeing the response to the lounge, the Board approved setting up such lounges in 50 more stations in cities that have very high footfalls, including Jaipur, Agra, Jammu and Lucknow. The price in the other 50 stations will be location centric.” Talking about promotions and future plans, Goel said, “We already have a scroll alert in our websites – railtourismindia.com, irctc. com and irctc.co.in. We are also work- ing on providing online booking facilities like the way we book railway tickets. Also, since travel agents are the perfect vehicle to spread the word, we are working on tying up with agents for some kind of an arrangement that will help them sell the lounge.”