A man on Twitter shared that while booking tatkal tickets at 10 AM, the site froze by 10:01 AM. By 10:03, all seats were gone-even on remote routes-and by 10:04, the site was back to normal with nothing left to book.
This issue isn't new for IRCTC; similar incidents have happened for years where travelers, especially commoners, can never get around to booking tickets on the government-run website.
Unauthorized agents and online travel agencies (OTAs) are frequently reported to use automated software to manipulate online bookings.
US-India Tariff War: iPhone Prices to Skyrocket?
Previously, when this issue was raised, Suresh Prabhu, former Minister of Railways, had ordered a comprehensive inquiry and a technical audit of IRCTC's online booking platform, ensuring transparency.
All of those efforts seem futile as the problem has resurfaced again, and the OTAs continue to monopolize online ticketing with no interference from any authority.
YouTubers vs Indian Media: Copyright or Extortion?
Social media users are providing real-time proof as OTAs offer guaranteed tickets while IRCTC shows waiting lists. These online platforms are even promising 3x refunds if the ticket doesn't confirm.
As regular users are waitlisted, OTAs get instant confirmation, hinting at system manipulation where only the privileged get access to basic facilities while the common man is left to fend for himself.
People are calling for action from the current railway minister, Mr. Ashwini Vaishnaw, and are complaining about how this issue has been raised multiple times, but there hasn't been any response. Some joke he's too busy making reels to look into such matters.
This isn't just an issue regarding online bookings; it's about what follows due to an unrecognized problem within a system.
Many videos surface on the internet almost daily where some passengers have no option but to hijack seats that were already booked or are forced to travel in the washrooms or have to risk their lives by hanging on to poles and windows.
What can a common man do if there isn't any system in place to address his issues as he fails to receive even the most basic of facilities to travel with dignity?
Railways are a crucial part of India; it's what commoners and the privileged alike prefer to travel by owing to its easy connectivity and affordability.
While people pay their due share for a service that's so overused, it's time the system also paid attention and improved its standards.