IRCTC Website Revamp Announced After RTI Exposes Rs 2,619 Crore Convenience Fee Earnings
Pune/New Delhi, 17th June 2026: Railway passengers paid more than ₹2,619 crore in convenience fees to the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) over the past three financial years, even as users continued to report frequent website crashes, slow loading times and failed transactions.
The figures, obtained through a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Pune-based activist Praful Sarda, reveal that IRCTC collected ₹802 crore in convenience fees during FY 2022–23, ₹863 crore in FY 2023–24, and ₹954 crore in FY 2024–25.
IRCTC currently charges a convenience fee of ₹15 plus GST for Sleeper and Non-AC class tickets and ₹30 plus GST for AC class tickets, with lower charges applicable for UPI transactions. These fees are non-refundable.
According to IRCTC, the revenue generated through convenience fees is used for the “upkeep, maintenance and running of the website.”
However, Sarda questioned the rationale behind the charges, citing recurring technical glitches despite the substantial revenue generated.
“Digital India cannot merely be about collecting digital fees; it must also guarantee digital accountability,” Sarda told Punekar News.
“My concern is: If passengers have continuously paid for the upkeep and maintenance of the website, why has the system continued to fail year after year? Railway passengers continue to bear the financial burden of convenience fees while experiencing failed transactions, system outages and an unreliable online ticket booking process,” he said.
The criticism comes shortly after Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced a complete revamp of the IRCTC website. The upgraded platform, expected to be launched by 15 July 2026, promises a faster and smoother user experience, improved search functionality, better seat availability checks and enhanced Tatkal booking features.
Passengers have long complained about CAPTCHA-related issues, server crashes during peak booking hours — particularly during Tatkal bookings — and payment failures. Some users have alleged that convenience fees are deducted even when transactions fail.
Many passengers argue that a public utility service such as railway ticket booking should not impose recurring charges for an online platform that they claim remains unreliable.
IRCTC, however, maintains that convenience fees are transparently disclosed during the booking process and are necessary to support the massive daily traffic handled by its website and mobile application, IRCTC Rail Connect. The corporation has also introduced the RailOne app in collaboration with the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), although convenience fees continue to apply.
Sarda’s RTI disclosures and public statements have renewed calls for greater transparency regarding the utilisation of convenience fee collections. Some stakeholders have also demanded a reduction or rationalisation of the charges and a performance audit of the online booking infrastructure.
With the launch of the revamped website approaching, passengers hope the long-standing technical issues will finally be resolved — and that digital accountability will keep pace with digital payments.
