The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) plays a crucial role in facilitating train travel across India. Tatkal, one of its services, was launched to provide travelers in urgent need with last-minute ticket-buying options. Yet, despite its best efforts, the Tatkal service frequently causes citizens dissatisfaction due to a number of obstacles and restrictions.
Similarly, the recent controversy surrounding IRCTC’s Tatkal service and the difficulties users faced have become hot topics of discussion. Due to this, the Indian Railways have drawn a lot of attention on social media.
User shares his bad experience of booking Tatkal tickets
It all started when Twitter user Ravisutanjani voiced his displeasure with the ineffectiveness of government websites like IRCTC and EPFO. Ravisutanjani is known for his leadership positions at well-known startups like Rapido, Zomato, and Oyo.
In his initial tweet, Ravisutanjani detailed his appalling encounter with the Tatkal ticket-ordering procedure. He criticized the IRCTC for losing tickets as a result of the platform’s regular outages.
He added that he had a very tough time getting Tatkal tickets, even with a fast internet connection, which caused trains to have long waitlists. Ravisutanjani lamented that the inefficiencies of these government portals, including IRCTC, were adversely affecting the common people. He wrote,
IRCTC has Horrible Tatkal Ticket Booking Experience, Portal Stops Working for 5 Minutes When you Login, All Tickets are Gone. Highly Inefficient even at Fastest Internet Flights seem Expensive, Trains are Heavily Waitlisted. Poor & Common People Suffers
IRCTC has Horrible Tatkal Ticket Booking Experience, Portal Stops Working for 5 Minutes
When you Login, All Tickets are Gone. Highly Inefficient even at Fastest Internet
Flights seem Expensive, Trains are Heavily Waitlisted. Poor & Common People Suffers
Ravisutanjani underlined the necessity for advancement and modifications in these services to assist the general population and offer smooth experiences. Finally, he clarified the issue of agents purchasing Tatkal tickets and reselling them at astronomical rates, robbing legitimate travelers of their rightful opportunity. He wrote,
I certainly understand the scale & challenges but there has to be some progress and amendments for public benefits
Genuine People can’t really get Tatkal Tickets Online while agents Book and sell for Heavy Premiums
His tweets soon went viral and got mixed reactions. However, many people also agreed with him and shared their own ordeals in the comment section.
IRCTC’s reaction to online criticism
Later on, the Twitter thread also attracts the attention of the IRCTC. IRCTC, in response to Ravisutanjani’s tweet, acknowledged the heavy traffic experienced by their website during Tatkal bookings. However, they highlighted that despite the challenges, over 2 lakh Tatkal tickets were successfully booked within the first 20 minutes of the service opening. IRCTC wrote,
“Sir, there is heavy rush and concurrency on the website at the opening time of tatkal. However about 2 Lakh tatkal tickets were booked in the first 20 min of AC and Non AC tatkal.”
Sir, there is heavy rush and concurrency on the website at the opening time of tatkal. However about 2 Lakh tatkal tickets were booked in the first 20 min of AC and Non AC tatkal.
The Twitter interaction between Ravisutanjani and IRCTC immediately gained popularity, garnering over a million views and igniting a bigger debate over the flaws of the Tatkal service. While the IRCTC acknowledged the problems experienced by consumers, a sizable number of bookings made in a brief period of time demonstrated the intense demand for Tatkal tickets.
This Twitter conversation has highlighted Tatkal service-related problems and sparked debates about how to fix them. It is clear that IRCTC must act quickly to solve the technical issues, website outages, lack of ticket availability, and agents’ participation in the Tatkal ecosystem.
By implementing reforms and enhancing its technological infrastructure, the IRCTC can ensure a smoother and fairer experience for citizens relying on the Tatkal service for their urgent travel needs.
Daylight robbery is not quite usual but it does not strike out the fact that it is highly possible. Many a time cases as such have surfaced online where normal people were robbed in broad daylight. Recently, the passengers in a taxi got robbed inside the Pragati Maidan tunnel in Delhi on Saturday afternoon.
Four men rob taxi passengers at gunpoint in broad daylight and here is what Delhi Police have to say
On Saturday, a delivery agent and his associate were robbed at gunpoint by a group of unknown assailants, stealing around Rs 1.5 to Rs 2 lakh cash from them. In spite of having 16 security guards in the Pragati Tunnel, there were no CCTV cameras installed. Although the Public Works Department assured that cameras are installed, they did not confirm their operational conditions.
The victims made a complaint at Tilak Marg police station later in the evening. The Pragati tunnel is a 1.5 km tunnel that connects New Delhi with Sarai Kale Khan and Noida. The police said that following the complaint made by the victims, a case has been filed under Sections 397 IPC which covers robbery, or dacoity with an attempt to cause death or grievous hurt and 34 (common intention).
The Deputy Commissioner of Police, Pranav Tayal, has shared that the complainant can be identified as Patel Sajan Kumar and his associate Jigar Patel. Patel Sajan works as a delivery agent for a private firm in Chandni Chow and has informed the police that he and Jigar were going to Gurugram to deliver the cash to a client.
As per the registered complaint, the two of them hired an Ola cab from near Red Fort. As soon as the cab entered the Pragati Maidan tunnel from Ring Road, four assailants on two motorcycles surrounded their cab and robbed the cash off them keeping them at gunpoint.
Delhi Minister Atishi also took to Twitter and slammed the incompetency of the Lieutenant Governor. She tweeted,
LG साहब: अगर आपको @ArvindKejriwal के कामों का क्रेडिट लेने से फ़ुरसत मिले तो कभी अपनी संवैधानिक ज़िम्मेदारी पर भी ध्यान दीजिए। दिल्ली वालों को सुरक्षा देना आपका काम है। और अब दिन दहाड़े दिल्ली में चोरी, डकैती और क़त्ल की वारदातें हो रही हैं। या तो आप सुरक्षा की ज़िम्मेदारी लीजिए,… https://t.co/RG4c9ozWnW
Coming across train service complaints on social media is nothing new. Very often than not we find passengers complaining about bland food or bugs in the cooked food provided to them. Quite recently someone took to Twitter regarding a complaint where they found plastic in the railway food. But the latest thing that happened has actually stunned everyone when a video of the roof of a passenger coach train surfaced online.
Indian Railways slammed over water leakage in AC coach
Netizens have harshly criticized the poor management and maintenance of the train coaches after a surprising video surfaced online. Recently, a video went viral on social media platforms in which it can be clearly seen rainwater seeping in through the roof of the 2-tier AC coach of the Avantika Express. The Congress party also reshared the video uploaded by a passenger and took to Twitter to play the blame game immediately.
“काश खोखले प्रचार की जगह रेलवे के लिए कुछ काम किया होता। झंडी दिखाने वाले रेल मंत्री अभी विदेश में हैं, नाम वाले रेल मंत्री ध्यान दें। (Wish some actual work would have been done for the Railways in place of empty propaganda. The railway minister who shows the flag is currently abroad, the named railway minister should pay attention)”
काश खोखले प्रचार की जगह रेलवे के लिए कुछ काम किया होता।
झंडी दिखाने वाले रेल मंत्री अभी विदेश में हैं, नाम वाले रेल मंत्री ध्यान दें। pic.twitter.com/FNLvQL1Ihu
It was a jab at the Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who recently flagged off 11 Vande Bharat Express, the Railways’ newest hi-tech train.
Railways response to the above-mentioned tweet
The Western Railway took to Twitter to respond to that tweet hours later and stated that all the coaches of the Avantika Express train were properly checked.
“All coaches of Avantika Exp have been checked thoroughly & issue has been attended to promptly. The train has commenced its return journey & there are no such issues now. Passenger convenience is of utmost priority & WR leaves no stone unturned to resolve passengers’ grievances”
All coaches of Avantika Exp have been checked thoroughly & issue has been attended promptly.
The train has commenced its return journey & there are no such issues now.
Passenger convenience is of utmost priority & WR leaves no stone unturned to resolve passengers’ grievances. pic.twitter.com/V9QyKiIowJ
Thandi hawa ke sath sath sarkar ne barish ke pani ka bhi anand lene ke liye ye nayab tarikib lagai hai isme bhrastachar bilkul nhi hai aur haa jine murko ke ye lgta hai isme amir log travel krte hai to unko ye bta du amir log plan me jate hai aur dikhave wale amir train me….🤐
— Mahua Moitra Fans (@MahuaMoitraFans) June 25, 2023
This is probably not the first time that something has happened as per the claims of this Twitter user,
Recently travelled from 12424 Rajdhani Express to #Guwahati , had a very bad experience. As it was raining the rainwater was leaking in every coach and also there was no water in most of the dirty toilets. TTE ignored the complaint and asked to register complaint via phone.
On Sunday, Shah Rukh Khan aka the King Khan, completed 31 years in Bollywood industry. It was in 1992, when he made his debut in the industry with the movie Deewana opposite late actress Divya Bharti. As the fans celebrated the big day on social media with amazing messages and tributes for the actor, SRK also decided to celebrate the occasion with his fans in his own style.
Shah Rukh Khan completed 31 years in Bollywood
He took some time out of his busy schedule and held an #AskSRK session on Twitter. Starting the question and answer session on Twitter, SRK wrote:
“Wow just realised it’s 31 yrs to the day when Deewana hit the screens. It’s been quite a ride mostly a good one. Thanks all and we can do 31minutes of #AskSRK ??”
In no time, his Tweet was flooded with a variety of questions from fans for their favorite actor. SRK, who is known for his hilarious sense of humor, gave amazing replies to his fans with wit and humor.
Wow just realised it’s 31 yrs to the day when Deewana hit the screens. It’s been quite a ride mostly a good one. Thanks all and we can do 31minutes of #AskSRK ??
While interacting with the fans, King Khan stumbled upon a question that was asked by a female fan, who is currently pregnant with twins. The fan came up with an epic Tweet for the Pathaan actor. She asked:
“sir i am pregnant with twin babies..wish me luck i will name them pathaan and jawan.”
sir i am pregnant with twin babies..wish me luck i will name them pathaan and jawan ❤️ #AskSRK 5
Besides all the funny and hilarious answers, SRK was also seen giving some serious answers. A fan asked him if he would do a movie like Swades again, a role that was loved by one and all
Talking about his work front, SRK made a comeback after a hiatus of 4 years with Siddharth Anand’s blockbuster action-thriller Pathaan, which hit the theatres in January this year. SRK will be next seen in the upcoming action-thriller Jawan, which will be released on September 7th.
Jawan is directed by South filmmaker Atlee. Produced under SRK’s Red Chillies Entertainment, the movie also stars Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi in lead roles.