Commonwealth Games tickets to be sold online by IRCTC

A railway subsidiary has bagged a contract to sell Commonwealth Games tickets online and sports lovers will get the option of choosing the row and seat at different venues.

Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has got the contract of Rs 12 crore to become the official ticketing agency for the Games, to be hosted by Delhi in October this year.

IRCTC, a subsidiary of Indian Railways, will develop a dedicated website for issuing tickets of the Games. "We are developing the website with the latest software for the sale of Commonwealth Games tickets, including for the inaugural and closing ceremonies," said a senior IRCTC official adding, "We will be also responsible for commissioning and maintenance of the portal."

According to the Organising Committee, there will be a total of 22 lakh tickets of different denominations to be sold for various events during the Games. One can choose his or her seat in a particular row and the sold-out seats will be also shown in the website, said the official.

The sale of tickets is estimated to generate about Rs 120 crore as revenue, said another senior Organising Committee official, adding the prices of tickets will be ranging from Rs 100 to Rs 1000.

However, the ticket rates for the inaugural and closing ceremonies at Jawaharlal Nehru stadium have not yet been decided as these are expected to be much higher. Besides the online process, tickets will also be sold through call centres, retail outlets and at the venues.

IRCTC, which does catering service in trains, is also currently engaged in issuing rail tickets online. Once the ticketing website is launched, one does not have to stand in a queue for a ticket during the Games as it will be available with just a push of the button.