New Delhi, April 25: The Indian Railways has announced a significant update to its Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) mobile app, UTSonMobile, developed by the Centre for Railway Information System (CRIS). The update removes the outer limit geofencing restrictions that were previously in place for booking e-tickets. However, booking from stations and trains remain banned.

According to a TOI report, prior to this update, users were required to be within a specific proximity (at least 15 meters and within 2 km) of their requested boarding station to book tickets. This was determined using the smartphone’s GPS coordinates. Indian Railways To Serve One Rail Neer Water Bottle to Vande Bharat Passengers, Another on Demand to Stop Wastage.

However, a recent circular from CRIS has announced the removal of the outer limit geofencing restriction for both journey and platform tickets on the UTSonMobile App, effective immediately. This change allows commuters to book tickets from any location to any destination, regardless of their current whereabouts. For instance, a commuter at CSMT can now book a ticket for a journey starting from Kurla to Thane. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Shares India’s First Ballastless Track for Bullet Train, Says ‘More to Come in Modi 3.0’ (Watch Video).

It’s important to note that the journey must commence from the originating station within one hour of ticket booking. Additionally, commuters will still be unable to book tickets via the app while within station premises or aboard trains. This measure ensures that tickets are not booked after entering restricted areas, including trains.

The decision is expected to boost the use of the UTSonMobile app. At present, 25 per cent of the commuters use this app to book tickets. This move is seen as a significant step towards enhancing the convenience of railway passengers and promoting digital transactions.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 25, 2024 10:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).