IRCTC Launches Beta Version of New Website; Invites User Feedback Ahead of Full Rollout
The Voice of Chandigarh
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) launched the beta version of its revamped website, offering users a refreshed interface, simplified booking experience, and an opportunity to share feedback before the full-scale rollout of the upgraded portal.
The beta version went live and was made accessible through the existing IRCTC homepage. The trial launch marked an important step in IRCTC’s efforts to modernize its online ticket booking platform and improve customer experience.
The revamped website was developed after incorporating suggestions from students of Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), who shared their ideas during an interaction with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Their recommendations focused on making the portal more user-friendly, visually appealing, and easier to navigate.
Originally launched in 2002, the IRCTC website currently handles an average of around 14.5 lakh ticket bookings every day. The new beta version introduced a cleaner interface and several key enhancements designed to simplify the booking process.
Among the major improvements introduced were the removal of unnecessary captchas, pop-ups, flashing graphics, and other distracting elements. The website also displayed seat availability across all travel classes, reduced the number of booking steps for faster checkout, and enabled users to save passenger details for quicker repeat bookings.
IRCTC stated that the beta launch was intended to gather user feedback, which would be incorporated into future updates before the portal’s official release.
The corporation also confirmed that the revamped website would soon be integrated with the new Passenger Reservation Engine (PRE), which is currently being upgraded in parallel. The modernized reservation engine is expected to power various train booking applications and will support the fully functional new IRCTC portal, scheduled to be rolled out in the coming weeks.
IRCTC urged users to actively explore the beta version and submit their suggestions, stating that customer feedback would play a key role in refining the platform and enhancing the overall online ticket booking experience.
