In a major overhaul, the Indian Railways is revamping the IRCTC website and this include integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) for predicting booking pattern for passengers and suggest the best possible combination of trains available. This was announced by Railway Board Chairman V K Yadav in a virtual press meet.
Additionally, the railways signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for satellite tracking of trains. ISRO will provide real-time data relating to the speed and location of the trains and arrival and departure.
The real-time satellite data about trains will also improve the efficiency in its operation and helps passengers to get to know the movement of trains on a real-time basis.
Notably, to track trains via satellite the Indian Railways has installed global positioning system in 2,700 electric locomotives and in 3,800 diesel locomotives, and plans to fit the GPS in 6,000 locomotives by December 2021. The data recorded by the GPS is used for control office operation, NTIS, analysis and safety purposes.
Besides, in order to introduce contact-less ticketing system, it is also working on issuing QR-Code enabled tickets, both through online and physical counters bookings.
A pilot of contact-less ticket-checking on the line of airport-like check in was already started at Prayagraj Junction of North Central Railway.