Online travel aggregator (OTA) ixigo has officially launched QR-based Delhi Metro ticket booking through its ixigo Trains app, in partnership with Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC). This move marks ixigo’s strategic foray into the intracity commute segment to enhance end-to-end travel convenience for millions of users. This Development was first reported by The Economic Times.
Seamless Metro Ticketing Experience on ixigo
Commuters using ixigo Trains can now book Delhi Metro tickets digitally via QR codes, with payments conducted entirely within the app. To encourage adoption, ixigo is offering a limited-time 100% cashback (up to ₹50 in ixigo money) on bookings made between 9 AM and 11 AM daily. This initiative aims to ease metro ticket purchase, eliminate queues, and integrate metro journeys with intercity trains, buses, flights, and hotels—all in one place.
Dinesh Kumar Kotha, CEO of ixigo Trains & Confirmtkt, said, “Delhi Metro is the backbone of daily commute in Delhi-NCR. Enabling instant ticket bookings on ixigo helps passengers save time and plan their complete journey seamlessly.”
Building a Unified Mobility Ecosystem via ONDC
The collaboration with DMRC and ONDC supports India’s wider vision of interconnected mobility, allowing commuters to access multiple transport modes through open digital infrastructure without siloed apps. ONDC currently integrates metro ticketing with Chennai, Kochi, and Bengaluru Metros, with plans for further city expansions. Founder & CEO Alok Bajpai emphasized this as a foundational step towards first-mile and last-mile urban connectivity.
Competitive Landscape: Metro Ticketing Expands Across Platforms
Integrations with ONDC have enabled Delhi Metro ticket booking on a growing list of apps, including Google Maps, RedBus, Rapido, EaseMyTrip, NammaYatri, and others. RedBus, for example, allows booking of combined intercity bus and last-mile metro tickets, while Rapido offers end-to-end intracity multi-modal trip planning. ixigo differentiates itself by offering a unified platform where trains, buses, flights, hotels, and metro tickets converge, providing a truly holistic travel experience.
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ixigo’s Financial Strength and Strategic Investments
It reported a robust Q1 FY26 with 73% year-on-year revenue growth to ₹314.5 crore and a 76% rise in pre-tax profit to ₹28.7 crore. Growth was broad-based, with flight and bus GMV up 81%, and train GMV up 30%, reflecting strong demand across segments. EBITDA reached ₹32.5 crore, marking a 69% increase YoY, driven by tech innovation and cost efficiencies.
Beyond ticketing, It has recently expanded into adjacent domains, notably acquiring a majority stake in train food delivery platform Zoop. Zoop now serves over 10,000 daily meal deliveries across 200+ stations, enhancing ixigo’s user engagement and revenue diversification. The company’s integrated approach looks to create a seamless ecosystem—from booking to journey to onboard services.
Looking Ahead: Urban Mobility and User-Centric Innovation
It plans to extend intracity metro ticket offerings to other cities beyond Delhi through ONDC partnerships, aligning with broader smart mobility initiatives. The company’s vision focuses on removing frictions in multi-modal travel, using technology and AI to build an effortless experience for India’s burgeoning commuter base.
In a market crowded with players offering metro ticketing via ONDC, ixigo’s comprehensive travel platform and growing ancillary services place it in a unique position to capture increasing user mindshare while driving revenue growth.
