IRCTC CMD Unveils 2026 Roadmap: AI Portals, Gourmet Trains, and Green Push Amid Record-Breaking Year

As India gears up for a festive year-end rush, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) Chairman and Managing Director Sanjay Kumar Jain has outlined ambitious initiatives to redefine rail travel, blending crisis resilience, digital innovation, and sustainability in an exclusive interview with Whispers in the Corridors, Consulting Editor, Rajendra Sharma.

Jain, a 1990-batch Indian Railway Traffic Service officer and chartered accountant who took helm in February 2024, highlighted IRCTC’s swift response to the early 2025 IndiGo flight grounding crisis, which stranded thousands. “Indian Railways augmented passenger trains to meet demand, with bookings available on our ticketing platform,” Jain said. Collaborating with Western and Central Railways, IRCTC deployed assistance desks at Ahmedabad Airport and Mumbai’s Terminals 1 and 2, underscoring its role in India’s multimodal transport ecosystem.

With Christmas and New Year travel peaking, IRCTC is rolling out zonal New Year packages via www.irctctourism.com, alongside railway-operated festival specials. 

Digitally, IRCTC shattered records this year: 37,410 tickets booked per minute on August 16 at 10:02 a.m., and 1.84 million in a single day on August 19. Nearly 89% of reserved tickets are now online, while e-catering—launched in 2014—delivers over 1.25 lakh meals daily. Looking to 2026, Jain teased an “Artificial Intelligence-enabled unified portal” for one-click travel solutions, partnering with tech giants.

Sustainability remains core, aligning with India’s green mobility drive. IRCTC is modernizing kitchens to electric and induction systems, ditching LPG/PNG, and promoting biodegradable cutlery across e-catering. Staff training on waste segregation targets plastic reduction and organic management.

Financially, IRCTC eyes “calibrated growth” in FY26, balancing premium expansions with affordability for tier-2 and tier-3 regions through Bharat Gaurav and budget tourist trains. Recent ASEAN events in Bangkok and Vietnam signal outbound tourism ambitions. Onboard, 2026 brings “gifts” like proof-of-concept meal trials on Vande Bharat and Amrit Bharat express, tying up with brands such as Haldiram in Nagpur and Touchstone in Delhi-Mumbai. Serving 16.5 lakh meals daily, these upgrades aim to elevate culinary logistics.

Plus, RBI’s in-principle nod for IRCTC iPay as a payment aggregator promises a fintech revenue boost. “We’re positioned for steady performance,” Jain affirmed, as IRCTC bridges budget and luxury rails for millions. With Vande Bharat’s expansion, these steps could transform overcrowding into opportunity, keeping India on track for inclusive mobility.

(Detailed full interview in February issue of Whispersinthecorridors monthly magazine)

https://www.whispersinthecorridors.com/magazine/