The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) is undergoing a significant transformation of its ticketing system to enhance passenger convenience and reduce waiting times. The upgrade, which has already begun, is scheduled to be fully implemented by March 2025. This ambitious project aims to eliminate the wait time experienced by passengers after clicking the confirmation button for online ticket bookings.
The IRCTC has acknowledged issues where payments are deducted, but tickets are not issued. The root cause of these problems lies in the limitations of the current system, which struggles to handle the immense volume of online bookings. The corporation caters to an enormous user base of approximately 30 million, with over 900,000 tickets being booked online daily, including both passenger and agent bookings. This highlights the immense demand placed on the system, leading to occasional glitches.
To address these challenges, the IRCTC has undertaken a significant capacity enhancement program. Earlier in 2023, the railways outlined plans to increase their capacity from issuing 25,000 tickets per minute to 225,000 tickets per minute, while also boosting their inquiry handling capacity from 40,000 per minute to 400,000 per minute.
In a parallel effort to enhance the travel experience, the IRCTC has partnered with the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) to promote the ‘One India – One Ticket’ initiative. This collaborative venture aims to create a seamless travel solution for passengers utilizing both the main line railway and Namo Bharat trains. With the implementation of this initiative, passengers can now seamlessly book tickets for both IRCTC and RRTS services. Upon confirming an IRCTC e-ticket booking, users have the option to add Namo Bharat train tickets for up to eight travelers. This convenient booking feature is accessible from the PNR confirmation page and the user’s booking history.
The IRCTC’s efforts to modernize its ticketing system and integrate with other transportation services reflect a commitment to improving the overall travel experience for passengers. These initiatives are crucial in meeting the increasing demands of the Indian railway system and ensuring a smoother, more efficient journey for travelers.
