Computing, IT & AI
Computerised railway reservation (PRS)
1986 CE onwardIndian Railways and CRISFirst computerised reservation in New Delhi (1986); CONCERT networkPan-Indian / unspecified
1986
A nationwide online seat reservation system for Indian Railways.
- Dated
- 1986–1999
- As scholars put it
- 1986 CE onward
- Originator
- Indian Railways and CRIS
- Source text
- First computerised reservation in New Delhi (1986); CONCERT network
- Region
- Pan-Indian / unspecified
- Discipline
- Computing, IT & AI
- Evidence
- Documented
- Confidence
- High
- Verification
- Verified-web
Background
Computerised reservation started in New Delhi in 1986, the same year the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) was set up. The system (CONCERT) linked the regional computer centres in New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Chennai so that a ticket for any train could be booked from any counter.
Significance
One of the largest online transaction systems of its time, and for many Indians the first everyday contact with a computer. It later became the back end for IRCTC internet ticketing.
Path to modern innovation
Handles over 1.6 million seat reservations a day.
Global impact
- Ended long queues at individual station counters, since any counter could book any train.
- Became the base for online e-ticketing.
Further reading
Corrections and additional sources: edit IND-379 on GitHub.