Timing of online train ticket booking to change

To reduce heavy rush for e-tickets during morning hours that often leads to slowing up of the IRCTC website, the Railways are mulling two separate timings for opening of tatkal and normal bookings.

If implemented the move would considerably reduce traffic volume on IRCTC website providing e-tickets, thereby enabling quick access to the site, which sells 30 per cent of all rail tickets, an IRCTC official said.

The idea is to shift the opening of tatkal bookings to 10 am instead of 8 am. "Though it is still in the thinking process, we hope the change of timings will considerably reduce pressure on IRCTC portal," he said.

The official said there is a significant rise in traffic in IRCTC website when bookings for advance reservation period and tatkal tickets open at 8 am. "This could be a reason why passengers are unable to open the site during this period."

The move, however, could face several hurdles as Railways would then have to suitably change timings of tatkal bookings over the reservation counters.

Railways, though, have recently adopted several changes in its reservation system to make it more user-friendly and help individuals.

Last week it barred IRCTC web-based agents from getting access to tatkal bookings from 8 am to 9 am in the morning as well as bookings for the initial one hour on the first day of advance reservation period.

IRCTC is also planning major up gradation of its server for enhanced speed, the official said.