The Indian Railways is introducing nonfungible token (NFT) train tickets for two specific trains traveling to Delhi from March 20th to April 2nd in celebration of the Hindu festival, Holi. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) announced that passengers of the Tejas Express 82501 and 82502 will receive NFT train tickets instead of traditional paper tickets. These NFTs are meant to enhance the travel experience by providing unique digital souvenirs that celebrate the cultural heritage of the cities of Lucknow and Delhi.
The NFT train tickets aim to improve the journey experience for travelers by allowing the creation of personalized NFTs that can be verified on the blockchain by authorities and the public. This initiative is in partnership with NFTtrace, a digitization platform that will maintain the records of ticket purchases on the Hyperledger blockchain using smart contracts for traceability. With over 1.2 million tickets booked daily on IRCTC, the widespread adoption of NFTs for train tickets has the potential to significantly increase NFT usage in the region.
The digitization of tickets with NFTs not only prevents issues like forgery and misplacements but also pays tribute to the festival of Holi, known as the festival of colors. NFTtrace is expected to play a crucial role in the implementation of this initiative. The company has not yet responded to requests for comment from .
It is worth noting that India has been actively exploring the use of blockchain technology in various sectors. The country primarily relies on three blockchain platforms — Hyperledger Fabric, Hyperledger Sawtooth, and Ethereum — for product development. It was recently revealed that India’s National Informatics Centre (NIC), a government agency, currently hosts nearly eight million government-issued verifiable documents across five blockchains. These blockchains are used for different purposes such as certificate management, drug logistics, and property records.
The introduction of NFT train tickets by the Indian Railways aims to enhance the travel experience for passengers and celebrate the cultural significance of the Holi festival. This initiative, in collaboration with NFTtrace, utilizes blockchain technology to ensure the authenticity and traceability of tickets. If successful, this could pave the way for broader adoption of NFTs in the region. India’s active exploration of blockchain technology in various sectors showcases its commitment to leveraging the potential of this innovative technology.
NFTtrace’s role in maintaining ticket purchase records on the blockchain is commendable! 🙌💻 Their traceability feature will bring transparency to the system.
India’s commitment to leveraging blockchain technology is admirable! The introduction of NFT train tickets is just the beginning of a tech revolution.