New IRCTC Website Goes Live in Beta With Faster Booking, Cleaner Interface

NEW DELHI — The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched the beta version of its revamped ticket booking website, marking the platform's first major redesign in over two decades, the Ministry of Railways said Wednesday.

The beta version can be accessed through a dedicated link on the existing IRCTC homepage. Originally launched in 2002, the IRCTC website currently handles an average of around 14.5 lakh ticket bookings every day.

What's New

The redesigned platform removes unnecessary captchas, pop-ups, flashing graphics and other distracting elements to make the booking experience smoother. Seat availability is now displayed across all travel classes on a single screen, eliminating the need to search through multiple tabs. The checkout process has been shortened with fewer steps, and saved passenger details will make repeat bookings faster.

Built on Student Feedback

The redesign was driven by suggestions from students at the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT), Jaipur, who raised concerns about the existing website's usability during an interaction with Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw. Following that feedback, Vaishnaw directed officials to roll out an improved version by July 15, and IRCTC and CRIS officials tested the beta with MNIT students before launch.

Linked to Reservation System Upgrade

The revamped website will eventually be integrated with a new Passenger Reservation System (PRS), which is being upgraded in parallel to handle larger traffic volumes, including surges during Tatkal booking hours. The ministry said this core system requires extensive redevelopment while ensuring uninterrupted service, and the fully integrated new IRCTC portal along with the upgraded reservation engine is expected to roll out within the next few weeks.

Feedback-Driven Rollout

The ministry said the beta launch is meant to gather user feedback, which will be used to refine the platform ahead of its final release. Additional improvements suggested during the trial phase will be incorporated in future updates.