Recent news showed that Asian countries ranked high among countries with the best blockchain adoption. India was one of the top five countries listed in that report, and the South Asian country is still going strong on its crypto adoption with a fresh blockchain project in a surprising industry—railway. 

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News has it that Indian Railways, in a rare move, will only issue non-fungible token (NFT)-based tickets to all passengers employing their services as they travel to the MahaKumbh Mela event, a Hindu festival and pilgrimage that occurs only once every 144 years. 

To execute this project, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation has partnered with Chaincode Consulting, a blockchain firm. Chaincode Consulting announced the partnership on January 13, 2025. The partnership aims to digitize the spiritual journey millions of pilgrims and travelers will experience as they head to this once-in-a-lifetime pilgrimage.

The NFTs will be minted on the Polygon blockchain and made available via NFTtrace, a platform which specializes in real-world assets (RWAs) and traceability. 

The Polygon Blockchain was reportedly chosen as the blockchain for this project because of its faster throughput and low gas fees, which support scalability and environmental sustainability. 

Alok Gupta, CEO of Chaincode Consulting, was pleased with the initiative and partnership and stated,

“By partnering with IRCTC and leveraging the Polygon blockchain, we are enabling a digital-first experience that complements the spiritual and traditional significance of the Mahakumbh while introducing a new level of engagement through NFTs.”
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The IRCTC already receives millions of daily bookings on its website. However, this initiative aims to attract global participation with this new digital, NFT-based format. 

The Kumbh Mela is another event related to this one, but unlike the MahaKumbh Mela, it is held every 12 years. Kumbh Mela is on UNESCO’s list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. Many celebrities, such as Richard Gere, the actor and movie director David Lynch, and the Dalai Lama himself, have frequently attended it. 

According to the Times of India, Laurene Jobs, widow of former Apple boss Steve Jobs, has indicated that she will also be attending the 2025 event. 

Despite this announcement garnering much attention from the media, Indian Railways is not a newcomer to the world of NFTs. The Indian corporation has previously sponsored a limited-time NFT train ticketing drive for last year’s Holi festival, which took place in March 2024. 

During the 2024 Holi campaign, the ICRC stated, “These tickets are not merely digital souvenirs; they are a celebration of the rich cultural tapestry of (the Indian cities of) Lucknow and Delhi,” suggesting India’s continuous support for digitization and the nation's commitment to wider crypto adoption as more and more countries seek to do more with crypto. 

As preparation for the festival begins, all the NFTs issued by the Indian Railways can now be verified on the blockchain by authorities and the public.

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