Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has announced that a revamped Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website will be launched by July 15, aiming to address long-standing concerns raised by passengers over technical glitches and booking-related difficulties. The announcement was made during an interaction with students at the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) in Jaipur, where a discussion on railway services led to a direct commitment from the minister regarding improvements to the ticket booking platform.
The announcement gained widespread attention after a video of the interaction went viral on social media. During the event, a student highlighted recurring captcha-related issues on the IRCTC website, which many users have complained about while booking train tickets. Responding immediately, Vaishnaw contacted a railway official during the session and asked whether a new version of the website could be rolled out within 30 days.
Addressing the gathering, the minister informed students that the upgraded platform would be operational by July 15. The assurance was met with applause from attendees, many of whom welcomed the move as a step toward improving the online ticket booking experience. The interaction reflected the government’s effort to respond directly to public feedback regarding digital railway services.
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The IRCTC website remains the primary platform for railway ticket reservations in India and handles millions of transactions every day. However, users have frequently reported problems including website crashes during peak hours, delays in receiving one-time passwords (OTPs), and difficulties securing Tatkal tickets due to heavy traffic. These issues have often led to frustration among passengers, especially during high-demand booking periods.
Online reservations now account for a significant majority of railway ticket bookings in the country. According to railway officials, nearly 88 percent of train tickets are purchased through digital channels rather than physical reservation counters. In recent years, Indian Railways has also introduced stricter authentication measures, including Aadhaar-based verification for Tatkal bookings, while taking action against suspicious and inactive user accounts.
The announcement comes as IRCTC continues to expand its use of technology across railway services. Earlier this month, the corporation revealed that it had deployed an artificial intelligence-based monitoring system across hundreds of railway kitchens to improve food quality and hygiene standards. With the upcoming website upgrade, Indian Railways is expected to further strengthen its digital infrastructure and enhance the overall experience for millions of passengers who rely on its online services each day.
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