Udaipur, December 28, 2024 - On December 26, 2024 the IRCTC website and app were unavailable due to scheduled maintenance.  Many passengers faced issues during this busy holiday season, as they rely on the platform to book or manage train tickets. IRCTC suggested passengers cancel tickets via customer care or email if needed. This is the second time in December that IRCTC services were disrupted, raising concerns for frequent users.  

IRCTC Stock Performance

IRCTC’s stock price dropped by nearly 1% on December 26. Over the last week, the stock has fallen by 4%. In 2024, the stock has given a negative return of over 10%, worrying investors.  

New Ticket Booking Rules 

Since November 1, passengers can book train tickets only 60 days in advance (earlier it was 120 days). Indian Railways introduced this change to reduce over-booking and last-minute cancellations.  

Officials observed that many people canceled tickets booked 61–120 days in advance or didn’t use them, causing wastage. The change helps Railways plan better for travel demand and special trains during busy seasons.  

The IRCTC outage and new booking rules are part of efforts to improve services, but they have caused inconvenience for users and concerns for investors.

Source: Media Reports