Indian train e-ticketing proposed for Bangladeshis

Bangladesh could become the first South Asian neighbour to get Indian Railways' online train ticket booking facilities if the Indian Home Ministry clears the plan.

The proposal for e-ticketing facility to Bangladesh was mooted by a delegation of Bangladesh Railways during a meeting with Indian Railway officials in India last week, our New Delhi correspondent reports quoting Indian official sources today.

While the Indian Railway Board has agreed in principle with the Bangladesh delegation's proposal, it made it clear that the proposal needs to be vetted by the Indian Home Ministry since the security issue is involved, the sources said.

The Bangladesh delegation included officials from its foreign ministry.

"The Railway Board in principle proposed for the online ticketing facility to Bangladeshi people. But it has to be cleared by our Home Ministry," the Indian sources said.

If the proposal gets Indian Home Ministry clearance, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC) can have arrangement with the General Sales Agents of Bangladesh that will facilitate booking of e-tickets of Indian Railways through IRCTC's website.

At present, India does not extend e-ticketing facility to any South Asian country.