IRCTC Website Down: Long Outage Sparks Social Media Debate, Passengers Struggle To Book Tatkal Tickets

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) faced backlash on Thursday, December 26, after its website and app services went offline during peak ticket-booking hours. The outage, attributed to scheduled maintenance, left thousands of passengers stranded and unable to book Tatkal tickets.

IRCTC, the e-ticketing and tourism arm of the Indian Railways, displayed the following message on its website during the downtime:

"DUE TO MAINTENANCE ACTIVITY, E-TICKETING SERVICE WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE. PLEASE TRY LATER. FOR CANCELLATION/FILE TDR, PLEASE CALL AT CUSTOMER CARE NO. 14646,08044647999 & 08035734999 OR MAIL AT [e-mail]."

While maintenance activities are routine, the timing of this particular outage, coinciding with the busy holiday period, caused inconvenience. This marks the second instance in December where IRCTC's services have been disrupted.

Social Media Uproar

The outage prompted an outpouring of complaints on social media, with users venting their anger and tagging government officials, including Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Many passengers expressed concerns over missing crucial bookings during the coveted Tatkal window, alleging systemic inefficiencies and even foul play.

One user on X (formerly Twitter) lamented, "How can IRCTC website go down during tatkal timings??? Why are we even bothering about building a bullet train when we can't even build a functioning website?"

Another user pointed fingers at a potential scam, tweeting, "@RailMinIndia @AshwiniVaishnaw @PMOIndia when this fraud will stop, always at 10 am IRCTC website crashes, and when you open again all Tatkal tickets get booked but only premium tickets with double prices are available. This is a clear scam by @IRCTCofficial."

Others criticized the inefficiency, and said, "India is the largest IT hub in the world, yet it cannot fix a website. You can collect taxes but fail to provide proper services in return. What a shame!"

The timing of the scheduled maintenance during Tatkal booking hours, a critical period for travellers seeking last-minute tickets, drew severe criticism. The Tatkal scheme, which opens daily at 10 am, often sees a surge in bookings, making uninterrupted access crucial for passengers. Many users questioned why maintenance couldn't be scheduled during off-peak hours to minimize disruption.

A user summed up the sentiment, "Please leave this business. You guys are not capable. Hire talent or privatize this fully."

This recurring issue raises concerns about the reliability of IRCTC's digital infrastructure. As India positions itself as a global IT leader, instances like this highlight gaps in public-sector technology services.

The outage has triggered calls for accountability and reform. Many users have demanded a thorough investigation into the recurring crashes during Tatkal booking hours. Suggestions range from privatization of services to hiring top-tier IT talent to ensure seamless functionality.

IRCTC has long been under scrutiny for its technical glitches, particularly during high-demand periods. With millions of users relying on its services daily, outages like these not only disrupt travel plans but also erode public trust.