IRCTC has introduced NFT tickets for some trains between Lucknow and Delhi. The tickets are available for a limited time, up to 2 April, 2024. IRCTC has introduced such digital souvenirs earlier.

IRCTC has introduced NFT tickets celebrating the history of Lucknow and Delhi. (Image Credit: IRCTC).

New Delhi: The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) responsible for ticketing and passenger outreach for the Indian Railways, has announced vibrant, Holi-themed tickets that are blockchain based digital collectibles known as Non Fungible Tokens (NFTs). The ‘NFT tickets’ are available for a limited time, between 20 March 2024 and 2 April 2024. The NFT tickets are for Tejas trains running between Delhi and Lucknow, as well as Lucknow and Delhi, containing artwork celebrating the rich histories of the two cities.

IRCTC has said in a statement, “These tickets are not merely digital souvenirs; they are a celebration of the rich cultural tapestry of Lucknow and Delhi. They symbolize our dedication to enriching your journey experiences, allowing you to personalize your travel memories with your own photographs and enjoy exclusive offers from handpicked brands. We invite you to embrace the festive season with these artistic NFT tickets, crafted with joy and creativity.”

Details about the NFTs are sparse

IRCTC has not divulged many details related to the tickets, including whether or not an additional charge will be levied for passengers who want the NFTs, how each of the NFTs are unique, and how many NFTs will be minted in total. IRCTC has also indicated that the NFT tickets are not transferable, which may just apply to the tickets themselves and not the NFTs. If the NFTs themselves are not transferable, then it makes them of dubious value as a digital collectible. It is also not clear if the personalisation is for the NFT, and how the process works.

IRCTC has introduced NFTs previously

This is not the first time that IRCTC has introduced NFTs. Previously, IRCTC had introduced NFT tickets for Ayodhya Dham, commemorating the arrival of Lord Shree Ram, in a collaboration with NFTtrace. Registered users of IRCTC could claim their NFTs through a web interface. Commemorating physical journeys with digital collectibles is a great way of providing a memorable experience to the passengers, who may be more interested if details are available on how exactly each of the NFTs are unique.