Average number of users of IRCTC website per day

289 . SHRI K.N. BALAGOPAL

(a) whether Government has changed its earlier decision to facilitate Indian Railways website, instead of Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) website, for booking train tickets;

(b) if so, the reasons therefor;

(c) the average number of users of IRCTC website per day at present;

(d) whether Government is planning to boost the capacity of IRCTC website;

(e) if so, the details thereof; and

(f) if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MUKUL ROY)

(a) to (f): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF STARRED QUESTION NO.289 BY SHRI K.N. BALAGOPAL TO BE ANSWERED IN RAJYA SABHA ON 31.08.2012 REGARDING CAPACITY OF IRCTC WEBSITE

(a)& (b): In order to augment the transaction handling ability of the existing IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) website through technological upgradation, both in hardware and software, it has been decided to provide enhanced technical support through CRIS (Centre for Railway Information Systems), an IT organisation under Ministry of Railways. This is being done to avoid duplication of effort and to synergise the professional competence of both IRCTC and CRIS to deliver a faster and more user-friendly service to the customer.

(c): The average number of users of IRCTC (Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation) website per day is approximately 25.6 lakhs with 5.16 lakhs e-ticketing transactions, which include both bookings and cancellations.

(d): Yes, Sir.

(e): In the first stage

(i). bandwidth increased from 350 mbps to 450 mbps.

(ii). Installation of high capacity Web Servers is planned (23 servers with 54 cores being replaced by 25 servers with 300 cores).

(iii). Installation of high capacity Application servers is planned (present capacity is 50 servers with 216 cores and replacement of 18 servers with 56 additional cores is planned making a total of 50 servers with 272 cores).

In the final stage further enhancements are planned to cater to a load of 7 lakh tickets per day.

(f): Does not arise.