A recent nationwide survey conducted by LocalCircles has revealed that only 40% of train travellers trust the IRCTC Tatkal booking system, highlighting significant concerns over its efficiency and fairness.
The survey, which garnered over 55,000 responses from passengers across 396 districts, indicates a growing frustration among users regarding the online ticketing process. The Tatkal Reservation Scheme, introduced in 1997 to facilitate urgent travel, has been marred by persistent issues such as website crashes, slow processing times, and allegations of unfair practices by travel agents. Passengers have reported that tickets often sell out within seconds of the booking window opening, leaving many with waitlisted statuses despite prompt payment attempts. Others have expressed concerns about the prevalence of bots and agents exploiting the system to secure tickets, further disadvantaging genuine travellers.
In response to these challenges, IRCTC has implemented an AI-powered system aimed at improving booking speed, security, and transparency. The new system is designed to detect and block suspicious activities during bookings, reduce website crashes during peak hours, and ensure that genuine passengers have a fair chance at securing tickets. Despite these efforts, many users remain skeptical about the effectiveness of the measures, citing ongoing issues with the platform’s performance. The survey also highlighted concerns over the affordability of Tatkal fares, with 74% of respondents finding the ticket prices excessively high. This sentiment has been echoed by passengers who feel that the current pricing structure is not aligned with the original intent of the Tatkal scheme, which was to provide affordable and accessible travel options for those in urgent need.
As the summer travel season approaches, the demand for Tatkal tickets is expected to increase, amplifying the pressure on the IRCTC system. Passengers are urged to remain vigilant and explore alternative booking options, such as utilizing the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters, to mitigate the challenges associated with online booking. However, the recurring issues with the IRCTC platform underscore the need for a comprehensive overhaul to restore passenger trust and ensure a fair and efficient ticketing process. The ongoing difficulties faced by passengers in securing Tatkal tickets highlight the broader challenges within the Indian railway system’s digital infrastructure. Addressing these issues will require a concerted effort from IRCTC and the Ministry of Railways to enhance system reliability, improve user experience, and uphold the principles of fairness and accessibility in railway travel.
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