Ahead of Dhanteras and the onset of the five-day-long Diwali festival, one of the most important websites for booking train tickets is down. Indian Railways-backed IRCTC is the main portal for online booking, ticket and train-related services along with ordering meals during the journey. However, before the festival cheer, train passengers have complained about booking issues on IRCTC. Thousands of users are struggling to process their ticket bookings.
IRCTC Down:
Nearly five thousand users have complained about issues related to accessing IRCTC. From the complaints, 48% of them were related to accessing services on the IRCTC website, while 37% of the complaints were related to the mobile application, and 14% of the issues were related to ticketing, as per DownDetector.
Most of the complaints were related to tatkal ticket bookings.
Many netizens took to their social media platforms to convey about their issues. One user on X handler said, "Every year, same story: IRCTC fails again during Diwali tatkal bookings. Booking timings 10:00 AM. Till 10:07 AM: Site unreachable. By the time it opens, tickets gone. For a platform that knows festive rush is coming, how does this still happen?."
Another user said, "IRCTC how book tatkal ticket. Now its 11am," adding, ''How come we know about, when will the tatkal is opening. Please specify a time, so we can come back at the specific time.''
Meanwhile, a user said that maintenance on the site should be done when there is a festival rush. He said, ''When you know that traffic will increase during the festival, maintenance should also be done on the site. But there's no response. Who's responsible?''
How To Book Tatkal Tickets On IRCTC:
Step 1: Register as individual user on irctc.co.in.
Step 2: Mobile number and email id is mandatory for registration
Step 3: Login by entering your user name and password on home page of irctc.co.in
Step 4: Click on "Plan My Journey" page.
Step 5: If the From/To station selected by you are correct in the route of the train then select Date of Journey.
Step 6: Select Ticket Type as e-ticket.
Step 7: Then Click on Submit button.
According to IRCTC's website, the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) of Tatkal scheme is reduced from two days to one day excluding the day of journey from the train originating station. For example, if train is to depart from the originating station on the second of the month, the Tatkal quota booking for that particular train will open at 10:00 hrs for AC class (1A/2A/3A/CC/EC/3E)and at 11:00 hrs for Non- AC class(SL/FC/2S) class on the first of the month from originating station.
Step 8: The "Train List" page appears
Step 9: Select Quota as TATKAL by click on radio button
Step 10: Find the Train and click on the class in the train list then it will show the details with availability.
Step 11: To book tickets, click on "Book Now" link under availability option.
Step 12: If you wish to select other train, click on another train class link.
Notably, maximum of four passengers per PNR can be booked on Tatkal e-tickets.
Step 13: The Ticket Reservation page appears; check whether the train name and station names, Date of journey, Class, Quota, Boarding Point etc. displayed on the top of the page are same as desired by you.
Step 14: Enter the name of passengers, age, sex and berth preference for each passenger. The maximum length of names should be restricted to 15 characters.
Step 15: Senior citizen concession is not allowed in Tatkal Quota.
Step 16: Click on ''Consider for Auto Upgradation" for automatic class upgradation after charting.
Step 17: Enter the verification code
Step 18: Enter the Passenger mobile number to receive the booking and cancellation free sms .
Step 19: Click on Next button.
Step 20: The "Payment" page appears
Step 21: Choose one of the mode of payment. Please click on the payment option
Step 22: Make payment and get your e-ticket.
Step 23: After successful payment and booking of accommodations, the User is shown the ticket confirmation details along with a "Print ERS" Button.
Step 24: On clicking the button ERS is shown with an option to print.