Tatkal Ticket Booking: Big news for railway passengers. Ahead of festival season, railway changes rules about ticket booking. Months ahead of Diwali and Chhath, individuals commence their quest for train tickets to journey back home and even initiate the booking process. However, the current scenario indicates an escalation in the challenges faced by passengers during ticket booking. While securing regular tickets was already a hassle, obtaining Tatkal tickets has now become notably arduous. Commuters are encountering issues where bookings on the IRCTC website or app are left incomplete despite the tickets being available.
The period encompassing Diwali and Chhath witnesses a sharp rise in the demand for train tickets heading towards Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. Travelers who are unable to secure confirmed tickets often turn to Tatkal tickets as their last resort. Nevertheless, if the Tatkal booking system on the website or app fails, how will passengers manage to journey back home?
The ordeal commences at 8 a.m.
The regular advance booking for trains during Diwali has commenced, allowing tickets to be reserved two months in advance. For instance, if one requires a ticket for Diwali on November 8th, the ticket counters opened today, September 8th. People began booking tickets at 8 a.m., but they were swiftly sold out upon opening. Furthermore, even those who managed to view available tickets encountered errors preventing them from completing the booking process due to technical glitches.
Reports from the media state that around 8 a.m. on September 8th, passengers encountered difficulties due to the heavy traffic on the IRCTC website, beta version, and RailOne app. Some users voiced complaints about the malfunctioning of the website and app, resulting in tickets quickly moving to a waitlist status. At 11 a.m., passengers faced similar challenges with Tatkal ticket bookings.
The distribution of free rations is scheduled for September, with residents of UP also set to receive complimentary sugar.
What is the underlying reason?
Railway authorities have consistently mentioned that the website becomes overwhelmed during the annual festival season when a large number of individuals simultaneously attempt to book tickets. The surge in traffic is attributed to the return of numerous individuals employed in various cities across the nation to their hometowns during Diwali and Chhath. Trains departing from Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Punjab, Haryana, and other states towards Bihar and Uttar Pradesh witness a substantial increase in demand during this period.
As a result, standard ticket bookings fill up rapidly, compelling passengers to turn to Tatkal, Premium Tatkal, or special train services. However, this year, complaints regarding technical issues during the booking process have only added to the anxiety of passengers.
When does the non-AC Tatkal booking commence?
Although Tatkal ticket bookings do not open simultaneously for all classes, reservations commence at 10:00 AM for AC classes and at 11:00 AM for non-AC sleeper classes, with tickets being issued a day before the travel date. Despite this, even Tatkal tickets are currently unavailable.
Passengers seeking Tatkal tickets in sleeper class must wait for the booking to open at 11 a.m. However, if the website encounters issues like login failures, server problems, payment glitches, or other technical difficulties during this period, seats are swiftly sold out.
Rules for Tatkal Ticket Booking
Starting from July 1, 2025, booking Tatkal and Premium Tatkal tickets on IRCTC necessitates an Aadhaar-authenticated user. This entails verifying the IRCTC profile with Aadhaar, and authentication is carried out via an OTP.
Moreover, authorized agents are prohibited by the Railways from booking tickets during the initial 30 minutes of Tatkal booking. Agents are restricted from booking for AC Tatkal between 10:00 AM and 10:30 AM and for non-AC Tatkal between 11:00 AM and 11:30 AM to provide regular passengers an opportunity during the initial booking phase. Nonetheless, despite these measures, individuals are still left empty-handed, unable to secure tickets for their journey home.