Ola ties up with IRCTC to provide first and last mile connectivity to rail commuters

India’s leading ride-sharing company, Ola has partnered with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation. IRCTC signed a LOI (Letter of Intent) on Tuesday to enable commuters book an Ola via IRCTC website and app.

The LOI was signed between Ola, and IRCTC to further enhance the mobility experience and provide a one-stop solution to commuters on IRCTC platforms. Through this partnership, commuters will be able to book from a wide range of services across cabs such as Ola Micro and Ola Mini for shorter rides, to Prime Play and SUVs for large groups with plenty of room for luggage, as well as Ola Autos and Ola Share - available directly on the IRCTC website and mobile app. Customers can choose to pre-book cabs up to seven days in advance or upon reaching the railway station.

In addition, travellers will be able to avail the Ola booking facility as a part of tourism packages, and travel itineraries. Ola’s self-serving kiosk on IRCTC outlets at railway stations will also enable commuters to book cabs.

In a statement released to the press, Saurabh Mishra, Head of Alliances at Ola, said, “Since Ola’s inception, it is our constant endeavour to integrate our smart mobility solutions as an extension to existing public transportation infrastructure such as railway stations, metros, and airports, ensuring reliable first and last-mile connectivity for the commuters. The integration with IRCTC is not only the stepping stone to digitising transportation end-to-end but is also, a leap in enhancing the commuter’s experience.”

IRCTC has integrated Ola booking API onto its platforms, commencing the services on March 19, 2018. With this partnership, Ola becomes the first mobility platform in the country to partner with the IRCTC to provide first and last-mile connectivity to commuters.

“The IRCTC - Ola partnership will provide first and last-mile connectivity to commuters. The ease of travel of our commuters is of prime importance to us and we believe that this association will help in delivering unparalleled convenience to the users on our platform, fostering and strengthening the culture of Digital India,” said an IRCTC spokesperson.

Commuters can book an Ola on the IRCTC app/website in three simple steps.

• Login to IRCTC with their credentials
• Click on the services section and select ‘Book a cab’
• Book their preferred mode of commute and confirm

The leading cab aggregator entered the international market in January this year, starting its operations in Australia. After launching its services in Perth last month, Ola recently entered the Sydney market on March 12, 2018.