New IRCTC Website: Good news for railway passengers. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav announced that the new IRCTC website is set to launch by July 15th. This information came in response to a student’s inquiry. A video shared on social media by news agency captures a student expressing concerns about the IRCTC website to the Railway Minister.
He promptly called an official over and was heard asking, “Students are asking for a new IRCTC website. Will it be ready in 30 days?” After getting a reply, the Railway Minister reassured the student and others present that the new IRCTC website would indeed be ready by July 15th.
The announcement sparked a range of reactions online. Some people praised the initiative, while others felt that the existing website could be enhanced by fixing its issues. One commenter suggested, “Instead of rushing to create a new website in a month, take your time to develop a better one.” Another pointed out that improvements could be made to the old site, recommending that it should focus solely on train ticket bookings and food orders, while discontinuing bus, air, and hotel reservations.
Regarding the current IRCTC website, it was established in 1999, with online ticket booking commencing in 2002. On its inaugural day, only 29 tickets were booked through the site. Today, the platform sees an average of over 1.4 million tickets booked daily via the website and app.
The IRCTC website has transformed from just a train ticket booking service to a comprehensive travel portal. Users can now easily access flight, hotel, bus bookings, and tourism packages right from the homepage. Moreover, various updates have been implemented to streamline the website’s core interface and minimize excessive advertising, resulting in a more user-friendly navigation and booking experience for travelers.
Key features and infrastructure upgrades to the existing website
Next-Gen PRS: The website’s backend now runs on a highly advanced Passenger Reservation System. Server capacity has been significantly enhanced, reducing website load even during peak hours and instant bookings, and significantly speeding up ticket booking.
Advanced Seat Selection and Fare Calendar: The updated user interface enables travelers to see availability across all classes (like 1A, 2A, 3A, SL) in one view while searching for trains. Additionally, a dynamic fare calendar is provided to assist in comparing prices for various dates.
IRCTC eWallet: To minimize payment gateway issues and expedite the booking process for Tatkal tickets, the e-wallet feature is prominently highlighted on the website. By pre-loading funds, users can avoid the hassle of waiting for bank OTPs during payment, allowing them to finalize bookings in just seconds.
Integrated iPAY (IRCTC-iPAY): IRCTC has introduced its own payment gateway named ‘iPAY’. This system functions on an auto-debit and instant refund basis, ensuring that refunds are quickly credited to the user’s account in the event of ticket cancellations or booking failures.
Ask Disha ChatBot: The website includes an AI-driven chatbot called “Disha.” Passengers can check their PNR status, cancel tickets, or inquire about refund statuses without needing to log in. It accommodates both voice and text commands.
Additional security and regulations: For enhanced security, two-factor authentication (2FA) and captcha verification are required on the website. Moreover, regulations are consistently strengthened to prioritize genuine travelers during the initial booking phase and regular bookings, thereby preventing unauthorized agents or illegal software from bulk booking tickets.
