8.4 million visitors: IRCTC tops travel websites list

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With an eight percent increase in the number of people visiting the website when compared to 2010, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation’s (IRCTC) online portal continues to hold the top position among travel websites in India.

The study by comScore, an Internet marketing research company, found 8.4 million people visiting the website so far in 2011.

According comScore, which tracks all internet data on its survey computers to study online behavior, all major online travel websites continue to trail behind IRCTC website. This has been the trend ever since Indian railways (IR) introduced the website for booking train tickets.

Indian Railways, in an attempt to bring down complaints regarding the booking website getting stalled or being unresponsive and to tap the full potential of online booking system recently, introduced the online booking service on the main website as well.

”This option was made available on the main website of IR ‘www.indianrail.gov.in’ recently and public can avail the same service offered on IRCTC website here too. Railway’s main aim through such an initiative is to bring down the pressure on IRCTC website.With the new option already receiving an overwhelming response, we believe that very soon it would be a success too,” said a senior IRCTC official, Southern region.

The official added that railways have been on the receiving end for the last couple of months due to the non-availability of the IRCTC site during peak hours.

“We hope that the new option would lessen such issues. However, grievances from the public regarding irregularities in issuance of e-tickets continue to be a major concern for Indian railway, which is trying hard to maintain transparency in e-ticket booking,” the official said.