IRCTC Plans to Strengthen Meal Booking Partnerships with Swiggy and Zomato

 The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is working to enhance its meal booking services by strengthening its partnerships with Swiggy and Zomato. According to Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Kumar Jain, the company aims to provide better food delivery services for railway passengers while ensuring smooth operations.

Currently, IRCTC processes over one lakh meal bookings per day through these platforms. The company maintains a 15% commission margin on meals ordered via Swiggy and Zomato, a figure that Jain considers reasonable for sustainable business growth.

IRCTC’s Payment Gateway and Expansion Plans

IRCTC has applied for a payment aggregator license from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and is currently awaiting approval. Jain emphasized that IRCTC’s payment volumes surpass those of several well-known payment aggregators, highlighting the potential for further expansion in digital transactions.

Presently, around 22% of total railway ticket bookings are processed through IRCTC’s payment gateway. "We have already set up a subsidiary for the payment aggregator license and are waiting for RBI's in-principle approval. Once approved, we can expand our business to government and private agencies," Jain stated.

Bharat Gaurav Trains Witness Strong Growth

IRCTC’s Bharat Gaurav trains have shown impressive performance, with revenue increasing significantly from ₹28 crore in October-December 2023 (Q3FY24) to ₹65 crore in October-December 2024 (Q3FY25). To cater to the rising demand, IRCTC has introduced an additional rake, expanding capacity and improving passenger services.

Record-Breaking Passenger Traffic in 2025

The January-March quarter of 2025 (Q4FY25) saw a sharp increase in passenger traffic, driven by significant events such as the Kumbh Mela. During this period, IRCTC recorded its highest-ever single-day booking, exceeding 15.5 lakh tickets.

"Our business follows a seasonal pattern, and bookings happen 60 days in advance. This quarter has witnessed the highest daily ticket bookings in IRCTC’s history," Jain remarked.

Catering Business Focuses on Volume Growth

Despite a marginal drop in catering margins from 15% to 12%, IRCTC remains committed to increasing order volumes and overall revenue. Jain pointed out that the expansion of new trains and additional capacity from Dedicated Freight Corridors (DFCs) would further boost the catering segment with reasonable profitability.

IRCTC Achieves ‘Navratna’ Status

The Government of India recently granted IRCTC ‘Navratna’ status, which provides the company with greater financial and operational autonomy. This status allows the board to approve investments of up to ₹1,000 crore or 15% of net worth per project without requiring prior government approval. This milestone is expected to facilitate quicker and more efficient decision-making.

"The grant of ‘Navratna’ status reflects IRCTC’s strong performance and efficiency over the years," Jain commented.

Market Performance and Future Outlook

IRCTC’s market capitalisation currently stands at approximately ₹56,752 crore. However, its shares have declined nearly 25% over the past year. Despite this, the company remains optimistic about its long-term growth, driven by strategic partnerships, technological advancements, and service expansion.