The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) achieved a record high of 20,06,353 ticket bookings on September 7, marking the first time the daily volume crossed the 20-lakh threshold, according to livemint.com. This milestone reflects a surge in demand ahead of the festive season, highlighting increased travel activity across the country.
The record was set as passengers rushed to secure reserved railway tickets, with about 89% of all such bookings currently made online, the report noted. The spike in bookings is attributed to the upcoming festivals, which traditionally see a rise in travel. IRCTC's digital platform handled the unprecedented volume efficiently, demonstrating its capacity to manage peak demand periods.
This development underscores the growing reliance on online ticketing for Indian Railways, which has streamlined the reservation process and reduced physical queues. The 20-lakh booking figure significantly surpasses previous records, indicating robust growth in passenger traffic and digital adoption. It also reflects broader trends in India's travel sector, where digital platforms are increasingly central to service delivery.
IRCTC's record single-day ticket sales on September 7 set a new benchmark for the railway's reservation system. This achievement comes just days before the peak festive travel period, when demand traditionally intensifies, posing operational challenges for the railways.