Indian Railways is set to launch a new beta version of the IRCTC website on July 15. In this updated portal, the requirement for CAPTCHA and pop-ups during train ticket booking has been removed.

This aims to make online ticket booking easier and faster. Additionally, seat availability across all classes will be visible on a single screen.

Ahead of the launch, officials from IRCTC and the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) gave a live demonstration of the new beta version to students at the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) in Jaipur on Friday.

Railway officials also sought feedback from the students to further improve the platform’s user experience before its public release.

Assurance from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

The background to this overhaul dates back a few weeks. Students from MNIT Jaipur had met Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and apprised him of the shortcomings and issues with the existing IRCTC website.

At that time, the Railway Minister had promised the students that changes would be made to the portal by July 15. Fulfilling that promise, the Railways specifically invited these students to review the system before the launch.

Fast Checkout and Saved Passenger Details

The number of steps involved in booking a ticket on the new portal has been reduced, making the checkout process significantly faster. Furthermore, another feature is planned to facilitate easier re-booking using previously saved passenger details.

Curbing Bots in Tatkal Booking

According to officials, several measures have been implemented to prevent the use of automated bots during Tatkal bookings. However, officials acknowledged that “this is an ongoing battle. There has certainly been some improvement compared to the past, but more effort is required. We will continue our efforts.”