Posted on 09/11/24 04:28 am

What is IRCTC?
Before diving into the IRCTC account setup details, let’s first understand what the acronym stands for. IRCTC is the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, a state-run organization that supports government rules for ticketing, catering supervision, and hospitality services related to rail, plane, cruise, and bus travel.
IRCTC operates an application that serves both global and local users, providing access to information about various services, allowing users to book tickets to desired locations, order hotel rooms, avail tour programs, and much more. Let’s explore how to create an IRCTC account and the specific features it offers.
How Can an IRCTC Account Help You?
IRCTC was established as a website in 1998, and since then, it has expanded to a mobile app, attracting over 20 million users who enjoy the following valuable functions:
As you can see, IRCTC offers a vast digital ecosystem with many features. Now, let’s look at the IRCTC train booking process. Users can select specific trains from and to certain destinations, choose service levels and departure times, and opt for categories like "Ladies," "Passengers with Disabilities," and more.
Passengers can also request food delivery from restaurants near the departure or destination station. However, this feature may not be available in all areas, as India’s large territory can sometimes make access challenging.
IRCTC’s Bus, Flight, and Cruise Booking
For bus, flight, and cruise bookings, IRCTC follows similar principles as train reservations—simply select the time, location, and number of passengers, then choose the appropriate slot. Additional features, such as food delivery, are also available. For cruises, contact information is required to connect with agents.
They also offer tours with predefined timeframes, locations, food, and hotel check-ins, allowing passengers to choose various categories based on transportation type, purpose, or departure location. This can be an excellent option for tourists looking to travel in comfort or as part of a group.
Other Benefits of an IRCTC Account
With an IRCTC account, users can book hotels across India at varying price points, utilize the in-app wallet, access loyalty programs, and use the payment gateway features. Additionally, the app features an information center called Rail Drishti, where users can access news and other content. However, to enjoy these benefits, you will need to complete a detailed registration process.
How to Create an IRCTC Account
The IRCTC community team has provided a straightforward guide for account creation. Here is a summary of the process based on their instructions:
After completing the registration, verify your email and phone number via the sent OTP codes. Once confirmed, proceed to your new IRCTC account and enjoy the website’s features. Notably, you can use a virtual number to maintain anonymity during the registration process.
Virtual Phone Number for IRCTC Registration
Virtual numbers offer a high level of internet security but are limited in functionality, as they cannot make calls or send texts. However, they are ideal for anonymous registration on services that require a mobile number, as they only allow you to receive SMS messages. These cloud-based, undocumented numbers are available for use worldwide.
You can purchase a virtual phone number for IRCTC registration, which will help maintain privacy without sharing your real mobile number. Although this won’t solve the issues related to email and address details, it ensures your primary number remains untouched. SMSOTPVERIFYoffers two types of virtual numbers: rental and one-time purchase. The latter is suitable for single-use registrations with a specific service and costs less than $1.
How to Register with a Virtual Number for IRCTC
Here’s a step-by-step guide on using SMSOTPVERIFY to purchase a virtual number for IRCTC registration: