IRCTC unveils NFT tickets for Lucknow-Delhi Tejas trains as Holi themed digital souvenirs

India’s digital asset industry marked a landmark day on March 13 as the NFT sector received direct recognition from the Indian Railways. In a bid to celebrate the spirit of Holi, IRCTC has unveiled colored NFT tickets for two Tejas trains running between the cities of Delhi and Lucknow. IRCTC or the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation is a central public sector undertaking run by the Ministry of Railways in the country.

IRCTC revealed the first glimpse of these NFTs through its very active X handler. If it looks, these NFTs will show sketches of historical landmarks of Delhi and Lucknow on colorful shaded backgrounds. From March 20, ticket buyers of Tejas trains numbered 82501 and 82502 will be eligible to access these NFTs. This initiative will end on April 2.

NFTs also come with some benefits that IRCTC has explained in its X post. It said: “These tickets are not just digital souvenirs. They symbolize our dedication to enriching your travel experiences, allowing you to personalize your travel memories with your own photos and enjoy exclusive offers from hand-picked brands.

So far, IRCTC has not officially confirmed whether all ticket buyers will get these NFT tickets as a free part of their purchases or they will have to pay extra to avail these digital collectibles. NFTs are digital collectibles that are built on top of blockchain networks.

Indian Railways has been exploring blockchain technology for quite some time now as they distribute NFTs as digital souvenirs. In March last year, for example, the National Academy of Indian Railways launched a workshop to spread awareness about the benefits of blockchain in the railway industry in partnership with Polygon.

Earlier this year, IRCTC offered tickets to Ayodhya in the form of NFT.

“More than just a ticket to Ayodhya Dam – a souvenir from the divine Sri Ramotsav. Preserve the pious memories of the arrival of Lord Sri Rama forever, with Blockchain NFT,” IRCTC said at a special dedicated website at this time.