IRCTC’s new beta website: Fewer clicks, faster process — your next ticket booking on IRCTC just got easier! The ministry of railways has unveiled a beta version of its revamped website, featuring a cleaner interface, faster checkout and saved passenger details for repeat bookings. The beta version of the Indian railway catering and tourism corporation (IRCTC) website was launched at 2100 hrs on Wednesday. A link to the new portal has also been added to the homepage of the existing IRCTC website. The ministry has asked users to try the platform and share feedback before the final version is rolled out.
What changes for passengers?
- Cleaner interface: The new website removes unnecessary captchas, pop-ups, flashing graphics and other distracting elements for a simpler booking experience.
- Seat availability in one view: Travellers can now check seat availability across all classes from a single screen instead of viewing each class separately.
- Faster checkout: The booking process has been shortened by reducing the number of steps needed to complete a ticket purchase.
- Quicker repeat bookings: Passenger details will be saved, making future bookings faster and more convenient.
The redesign was shaped with inputs from students of the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur, who suggested improvements to the website’s look and feel during an interaction with railway minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. The students were made part of the design process, and their feedback was used to prepare the portal for public trial.The ministry said the beta release is intended to collect user feedback, which will be used to make further improvements before the website is fully rolled out. Passengers can share suggestions on the simplified features, and these may be incorporated into future releases to improve customer satisfaction.The IRCTC website, first launched in 2002, currently handles an average of around 14.5 lakh ticket bookings every day. According to the ministry, the website has received several complaints over the years regarding its functioning and features, prompting the redesign.The revamped portal will also be integrated with the new Passenger Reservation Engine, which is being upgraded in parallel. The reservation system, which powers various train booking applications, has undergone extensive revamp work while remaining operational throughout the upgrade process.The ministry said the new Passenger Reservation Engine will be launched very soon, and the fully functional new IRCTC portal integrated with it is expected to be available in a few weeks.Users have been requested to explore the beta website and provide suggestions that can help further improve the platform before its full launch.
