RailEnquiry

Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will soon commence online advance booking for the recently launched, India’s first Travellers’ Executive Lounge at New Delhi Railway Station. Travellers looking to avail of the Lounge services would be able to book the same in advance through IRCTC’s booking sites – irctc.com; irctc.co.in; and railtourismindia.com. Informing this, an IRCTC official said that the corporation has received requests for advance booking from travel and tour operators as well for the Lounge services.

The official said that the Executive Lounge has been received well by travellers and the feedback has been good so far. “An average of 100 people are using the Lounge on a daily basis. The quality of facilities, the food, and services are well appreciated by travellers,” the official said.

Built on the concept of an airport lounge, the Lounge on the Ajmeri Gate entrance of the New Delhi Railway Station, completed at a cost of Rs five crore, is equipped with facilities such as buffet meals, snacks, tea/coffee and soft beverages, 24-hour wi-fi, luggage racks, wheel chairs, television displaying minute-to-minute train information, business centre with fax, book shop, facilities for wash and change, etc. It can accommodate 125 passengers at a time. Spread across 300 sq mts area, the Lounge also houses a one-stop convenience journey solution store operated by service provider WH Smith. IRCTC has partnered with SSP Catering India to operate the facility.
IRCTC has identified 50 railway stations across India considering tourist footfall and the tourism importance of the stations to set up similar travellers’ lounges. The first ten will be taken up in the first phase in the next financial year