IRCTC Website and Mobile App Crash Ahead of New Year, Leaving Users Frustrated
"IRCTC Website and App Face Outage During Peak Tatkal Booking Hours"
Staff Reporter । New Delhi – The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website and mobile application faced a significant outage during the critical Tatkal ticket booking hours on Tuesday, leaving passengers across the country frustrated. The disruption came during the peak booking period ahead of the New Year, causing widespread inconvenience.
Key Details of the Outage
The issue arose during the high-demand Tatkal booking hours, starting at 10:00 AM for AC class tickets and 11:00 AM for non-AC class tickets. Users attempting to access the platform were greeted with error messages citing maintenance activities, effectively halting bookings.
This is the second such outage reported within a month, raising concerns about the reliability of the IRCTC’s digital ticketing system, which caters to millions of users daily.
Passenger Frustration
The unexpected downtime sparked outrage among passengers, many of whom took to social media to voice their grievances. Complaints ranged from failed transactions to uncertainty over travel plans. A frequent user remarked, “This is becoming a recurring issue. IRCTC must ensure better service reliability, especially during peak seasons.”
Alternative Booking Options
To address the inconvenience caused by the outage, passengers were advised to:
- Visit railway reservation counters for direct ticket bookings.
- Engage authorized travel agents for assistance.
- Contact IRCTC customer care via phone or email for cancellations or rescheduling.
No Official Statement Yet
As of now, IRCTC has not issued an official statement explaining the cause of the outage or detailing corrective measures. However, the incident has brought to light the need for a more robust and reliable digital infrastructure, especially during high-demand periods like Tatkal bookings.
Impact on Travel
With millions relying on the IRCTC platform for travel arrangements, such disruptions create widespread chaos, particularly during festive seasons and holidays. Industry experts suggest that IRCTC should prioritize scalability and reliability to meet the growing demands of its users.
Passengers are advised to monitor official updates and plan their bookings accordingly to avoid potential disruptions in the future.
