At present, there are 68 private companies enlisted with Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for e-ticketing and additionally there are 15 agencies from state government/public sectors also. Zone-wise enlistment is not done by IRCTC, however, the authorized companies/agencies have been permitted to appoint sub-agents across the country to enable a wider reach.
IRCTC levies a service charge of only Rs.10/- per e-ticket for Second/Sleeper class and Rs.20/- per e-ticket in case of all other classes (1AC, 2AC, 3AC, CC, 3E, FC) irrespective of the number of passengers booked on an e-ticket.
In case of tickets booked through IRCTC’s authorized agents an additional service charge of Rs.10/- per e-ticket in case of non-AC class (Second/Sleeper) class and Rs.20/- per ticket in respect of other classes (1AC, 2AC, 3AC, CC, 3E, FC) is levied. The money earned by IRCTC on account of share of service charge during 2010-11 is Rs.136/- crore (provisional).
Two mobile ticketing vans were commissioned in January 2010, one each at Kolkata and Delhi. 25 more mobile ticketing vans have been sanctioned. This information was given by the Minister of State for Railways Shri K. H. Muniyappa in written reply to a question in Lok Sabha