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.  

Will their be an end to tatkal ticket woes?

Tatkal tickets were introduced to benefit passenger who opt for last moment travel due to some unforeseen necessity. Passengers have welcomed it with open heart. But railways keep changing the rule which is creating problem for the passengers to keep pace with.

Booking ticket through net is another big boon to people who find it difficult to reach station and book tickets. People working in IT sector are too happy about it because now they can book ticket from their office cubical. In the busy schedule of 9-6 IT professionals are left with little or no time to locate a railway booking centre. Most people opting for it are from IT industry or tech savvy people.

Even tatkal tickets could be booked through it if we do it with in the stipulated time. But logging into IRCTC at 8 am is a tough job, if we are can easily log in else will have to wait to decongest the traffic online.

Latest reform brought in tatkal ticket has not at all been welcomed by people like who have been addicted to IRCTC for booking tickets. Now in order to book tatkal ticket we need to be at the ticket window when it opens up at 8 in the morning. No idea why and for who’s benefit this plan has been incorporated. 

Now I will have find an agent who will help me in booking ticket in case of an emergency or opt for bus to travelling home.  Railway agents are the only person who have benefitted by the recent move of railway ministry.

If government wants us to go back to old day then the why was this modernization done and for whom? You can give somebody excellent quality service once and then they it back. I do accept the fact that their were few issues with tatkal ticket which forced ministry to take this decision but it could have been in dealt in more passenger friendly manner than being loop sided to agents.