Birdres partners with IRCTC, to provide travel agents with single access platform for rail ticket transactions

Birdres, a B2B distribution channel from the Bird Group, with content availability of various travel verticals, has announced strategic partnership with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), a public sector company owned by the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. Under the partnership, travel agents will have access to IRCTC inventory on the Birdres portal. This is the first time that IRCTC has partnered with any Global Distribution System (GDS) provider. Apart from expanding the reach for IRCTC, it will provide travel agents with a single access platform for railway bookings. Travel agents need not use a credit card for their transactions. A pre-paid amount needs to be deposited with IRCTC thereby ensuring transaction security.

Online ticket bookings with the railways have grown more than 100 per cent in the last year with over 25 per cent of the entire railway ticket bookings done over the Internet. This initiative is in sync with the recent announcements during the Rail Budget to make railway tickets available at more outlets for consumer convenience.

Ankur Bhatia, Managing Director,