Ixigo Partners with ONDC to Enhance Metro Ticket Booking Experience

A Step Towards Unified Travel Solutions

Online travel aggregator Ixigo has made a significant move by partnering with the government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) to facilitate metro ticket booking through its Trains app. This enhancement starts with tickets for the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).

Dinesh Kumar Kotha, the chief executive of Ixigo Trains and Confirmtkt, expressed enthusiasm over this collaboration, stating, “This integration with Delhi’s public transport lifeline will allow commuters and travelers a more seamless last-mile journey experience.”

Innovative Features of Ixigo Trains

Ixigo Trains has previously rolled out several user-centric features, further solidifying its position as a valuable travel companion. These features include:

• Travel guarantee for waitlisted tickets
• Live train running status with delay predictions
• Waitlist predictions
• PNR confirmation prediction
• Train alternate suggestions

A Brief History of Ixigo

Founded in 2007 by Aloke Bajpai and Rajnish Kumar, Ixigo has grown substantially, emerging as a trusted platform for booking train, flight, and bus tickets across India.

Impressive User Base and Financial Growth

Ixigo boasts a staggering 544 million annual active users, with 83 million engaged on a monthly basis. The company reported a remarkable revenue growth from train reservations, reaching Rs 130 crore, up from Rs 100 crore the previous year.

In addition, Ixigo generated Rs 103 crore from airline reservations and Rs 76 crore from bus bookings, highlighting the diverse travel services it provides.

Recent Financial Highlights

The company posted a net profit of Rs 19 crore for the quarter that ended on June 30, marking a 27% increase compared to the same period last year. Such growth can be attributed to:

• Growth across all lines of business
• Effective cross-selling and up-selling strategies
• Increased efficiency driven by artificial intelligence (AI)

The Role of DMRC and ONDC Collaboration

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, which operates nearly 400 km of network across over a dozen lines, has recently partnered with ONDC. This initiative enables commuters to book metro tickets via multiple consumer apps, including popular platforms like Rapido, Namma Yatri, and Uber.

Building a Unified Mobility Layer

Vibhor Jain, acting CEO and COO of ONDC, emphasized the importance of this collaboration, stating, “By connecting metro ticketing with its vast ecosystem of trains, buses, and flights, Ixigo is helping the ONDC Network to build a unified mobility layer for India.”

This initiative aims to streamline access to various modes of transport through open digital infrastructure, allowing commuters the flexibility to navigate without being locked into silos.

Future Implications

The integration of Ixigo’s travel services with metro ticketing represents a significant step toward delivering a cohesive travel experience. As more users turn to mobile solutions for their everyday transport needs, platforms like Ixigo will play an essential role in shaping the future of travel in India.

Conclusion

With its latest collaboration with ONDC to facilitate metro ticket bookings, Ixigo is not just enhancing convenience for daily commuters but is also setting a benchmark for integrated travel solutions in India. This initiative could pave the way for a more connected transportation network, making travel easier and more efficient for all.