IRCTC launches online bus ticket booking facility, here's how it works

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched its online bus ticket booking services which went live on January 29. Passengers can directly book bus tickets through IRCTC website.

Under the new feature of online bus booking, customers will be allowed to view a variety of buses- such as Volvo bus, AC bus or non-AC bus- and select the bus service which best suits their journey considering amenities, routes, ratings, reviews, and bus images available. The customers will also be able to choose their pick-up and drop points and timings and finally book their journey at a reasonable price with the ongoing bank and e-wallet discounts too.

Here's the direct link to book bus tickets on IRCTC website.

As per the IRCTC website, all passengers are required to have the Aarogya Setu app on their mobile phones.

According to a report by ANI, this service will also be available with IRCTC's mobile app and the integration will be completed in the first week of March.

"IRCTC under the leadership of Ministry of Railways, Ministry of Commerce and Industry and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution is gradually moving towards firmly positioning itself as the first government 'One Stop Shop Travel Portal' of the country," read a statement issued by IRCTC.

"In a recent development for providing a more holistic travel experience to the customers, IRCTC that is already in the business of online rail and flight tickets booking launched its online bus booking services that went live for the service of the nation on 29th January 2021," it added.

According to the statement, IRCTC has signed contracts with approximately 50,000 government buses and some private bus operators in 22 districts and three Union territories to provide online bus booking facilities to its customers.