IRCTC Clarifies No Competition with Agents Following Adani's Acquisition of Trainman

IRCTC Clarifies No Competition with Agents After Trainman's Acquisition

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) has addressed concerns surrounding Adani Enterprises' acquisition of Trainman, emphasizing that there is no competition between IRCTC and its agents.

In an exchange filing, IRCTC clarified that Trainman is one of its 32 business-to-customer (B2C) partners and accounts for a negligible portion of reserved ticketing. This clarification aims to dispel speculation about potential rivalry in the wake of the acquisition.

Trainman's Role and Contribution:

IRCTC reiterated that Trainman holds a minor position among its partners and contributes only 0.13 percent to the overall reserved ticketing. As one of the authorized B2C partners, Trainman provides real-time information on seat availability, live train status, and passenger name records. The acquisition of Trainman by Adani Enterprises does not alter the application of IRCTC's policy or impact its operations.

IRCTC's Collaborative Approach:

The regulatory filing further highlights IRCTC's collaborative approach, wherein it has entered into partnerships with various agencies under schemes like B2B, e-Governance, and B2C. These partnerships aim to enhance ticketing convenience and accessibility for citizens. IRCTC emphasizes that these associations are complementary in nature and do not involve competition with its agents.

IRCTC's Dominance in E-Ticketing:

With approximately 14.5 lakh reserved tickets booked daily on the Indian Railways, IRCTC plays a significant role in facilitating e-ticketing services. According to IRCTC's data, 81 percent of e-tickets are booked through its platform. This highlights IRCTC's dominance and expertise in handling online ticket reservations.

Adani's Acquisition and IRCTC's Response:

Adani Digital Labs Private Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Adani Enterprises, acquired Trainman, an online train booking and information platform. This marks Adani Enterprises' second investment in the travel and booking space, following its minority stake acquisition in Cleartrip, Flipkart India's online travel aggregator.

In response to concerns raised by Jairam Ramesh, IRCTC reaffirmed that Adani's acquisition of Trainman does not pose a threat or challenge to its operations.

Conclusion:

IRCTC's recent clarification addresses the speculation surrounding Adani Enterprises' acquisition of Trainman. By emphasizing the collaborative nature of its partnerships and the minimal impact of Trainman's acquisition on IRCTC's operations, IRCTC aims to maintain transparency and assure stakeholders that there is no competition with its agents.

With its dominant position in e-ticketing and continuous commitment to providing convenient and reliable services, IRCTC remains a key player in India's railway ticketing ecosystem.