My tussle with IRCTC tatkal booking

IRCTC has always been in center of controversy for its tatkal booking. As a result of which government has done lot of amendment to improve it for the benefit of the masses. Latest being Tatkal booking will be open to masses from 10am to 12pm (for online users), during this period agent will not entertained.

Sree wanted to book ticket for his hometown, he had already procured a bus ticket but wanted to try for train. He asked me if I could help him or not. I told him let me try because booking ticket for tatkal quota is a tough nut to crack.

Next day I logged to IRCTC at 9.45am wanted to keep the things ready and book it at the earliest, sree was trying from his end. We didn’t wanted to take any chance. I entered the date, location , quota and then pressed the search tab. All I could see was it trying to review information, a circular movement in screen. I waited for 15 min then I was logout of the page automatically stating “Timed out”.

Again logged in, this time I  was finding difficulty in location column, the website had become too slow by then. Somehow after 5 mins I was able to reach the option to book tickets and there were some 25 seats available by then. Immediately I click the book tab for taking me to the next page but again got stuck with the rotatory movement, which ended up in page timed out for the second time.

Post that I tried to log in 3-4 times but circular motion was the only, thing which prominent on the screen than anything else. I made my last attempted since it was 11.20 am. This was I was able to clear all hurdles, just to find out that the confirmed tickets were sold out and waiting list was available. During all these me and sree were in constant touch with each other.

Finally he told I should have gone to the counter to procure tickets rather than wasting time in front of laptop trying to book ticket online.  I have never stood in queue to book tickets under tatkal quota but have heard people come a sleep overnight at stations to be the first in front of the booking window, when it opens up to booking next morning.

Though the current facility has benefitted masses to a great extent but something more prominent need to be for helping people who can’t make it to the railway stations.