Improving Railway Reservation Systems - Addl Inputs
Below are the Issues, Root Causes and identified Solutions for the state of Railway Reservation Systems.
The circle has more than doubled in size since this subject was reviewed so we would like to see any additional inputs members might have.
Also, since then the Premium Tatkal Booking has also been launched and the IRCTC website has been upgraded and we would appreciate your thoughts on how these are working.
While submitting your view, please highlight if you are suggesting an Issue, Root Cause or a Solution with your comments.
We look forward to your participation!
Ministry of Railways
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Improving Railway Reservation Systems
Issues and Root Causes identified:
1. Tatkal system is a mess
2. Tough to even login during the early hours to book tatkal tickets
3. Number of seats reserved for tatkal are really less
4. Tatkal tickets are sold out within minutes of opening up
5. IRCTC website is slow and outdated
6. No graphical visibility of Free Seats/Births on IRCTC website to pick and choose as per your convenience
7. Increasing booking charges by IRCTC
8. Many times money gets deducted but the ticket is not booked on the IRCTC website
9. The refund process on the IRCTC website is very lengthy
10. Long queues at the ticket counters
11. Inefficient staff at the ticket counters
12. Less ticket windows compared to the large population
13. Agents have a quota system which helps them block large number of seats
14. The VIP/railway quota system is misused
15. Tickets issued as current booking don’t have seat numbers assigned to them
16. Senior Citizens and handicapped persons are allotted Upper Berth by computer system
17. Bookings not possible through a mobile phone
18. No provision of buying platform tickets online
Solutions Identified:
1. IRCTC website should be updated with the latest technology
2. Number of seats in the tatkal quota should be increased
3. People should be able to select seats graphically like in airlines
4. The refund process should be made quicker
5. More ticket windows should be opened on the stations to disperse the crowd
6. Tickets issued in current should have seat numbers assigned to them
7. Platform tickets should also be available online
8. A mobile app for ticket booking should be developed
9. Automatic ticket vending machines should be installed on stations
10. A special preference needs to be given to sick, handicapped and senior citizens in seat allotment
11. VIP and employee quota should be reduced
12. There should be a refund system for tatkal tickets also
13. Ticketing agent system should be abolished
14. Corruption in the system should be cleaned off
15. Post offices should be used to sell railway tickets more