IRCTC launches WhatsApp service for railway passengers to order food online

Bhubaneswar: Good news for railway passengers as they can order food online through popular instant messaging application ‘WhatsApp’.

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC), the PSU of Indian Railways, has started e-catering services through a specially developed website www.catering.irctc.co.in and its e-catering app Food on Track. To make the e-catering services more customer-centric, the IRCTC launched WhatsApp communication for the railway passengers to order food.

Here is the Business WhatsApp number +91-8750001323 through which a railway passenger can order food online.

The IRCTC has planned to implement e-catering services through WhatsApp communication in two phases. In the first phase, Business WhatsApp number will send a message to the customer booking e-ticket for opting for e-catering services through clicking the link www.ecatering.irctc.co.in.

With this option, the customers will be able to book meals of their choice from the restaurants of their choice available at railway stations enroute directly through the e-catering website of IRCTC without even requiring to download the App.

In the next phase of the services, WhatsApp number will be enabled to become an interactive two way communication platform for the customer wherein an AI power chatbot will handle all queries of e-catering services for the passengers and will also book meals for them.

To begin with, WhatsApp communication has been implemented for e-catering services on selected trains and passengers and based on customer feedback and suggestions, Railways will enable the same on other trains too.

Today, approximately 50,000 meals are being served in a day to the customers through IRCTC’s e-catering services enabled through its website as well as app.