Seeking comments on IRCTC accessibility claims in Railway PIL affidavit

[Vaishnavi Jayakumar]

More details and documents relating ro PIL can be accessed at the PIL landing page : https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-SCMP5BTJ97sh7t--xhafviu_6NceFMr4OoBJTd6qo8/edit?usp=sharing

Please email me directly  by 13-6-2026 23:00 regarding current issues faced on IRCTC web or app accessibility. The relevant extract from the affidavit is below :

"13. I humbly submit that the e-ticket booking is carried out by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited. The following remarks have been made by IRCTC, New Delhi: 

IRCTC website is in the continuous process of making the website conducive to navigate for persons with disabilities (Divyangjan) from 2015 onwards. In this regard, some of the facilities that has been implemented already are as follows: 

(i) The entire e-ticketing booking on IRCTC website can be navigated through keyboard. 

(ii) Due to frequent changes on user interface, there are various navigation changes on e-ticketing website. Continuous efforts are being made to ensure compatibility.

(iii) Users have been provided with the option to ask One-time password (OTP) in place of Captcha (at Login page and Booking Reservation page). This OTP can be submitted in place of  Captcha at the time of booking process.

(iv) Feature is available on both Website and IRCTC Mobile Application. Feature of sending the OTP on e-mail is available on new  interface. 

(v) For comfortable viewing experience, option to resize the font of whole website has been provided at the header of the website for comfortable viewing experience especially for senior citizens and persons with low vision, ‘ 

(vi) Concession based booking of online tickets for the physically persons is available provided passenger carries Photo Identity Card issued by Railway. Feature is available on both website and  mobile application. 

(vii) Less efforts are required during registration process for persons with disabilities in comparison to normal user. 

(viii) Due to new user interface, there are some navigation changes. Now, user can enquire for trains running between two stations without logging into the system. 

(ix) IRCTC e-ticketing website is compatible with Windows narrator and IRCTC Rail Connect mobile application is compatible with Google Talkback feature. In some cases, work-in progress to  ensure compatibility on all web browsers. 

(x) IRCTC Rail Connect mobile application is compatible with “Google Talk back” accessibility feature (available on all android. devices). This feature allows users to listen to all mobile  application elements and assists in booking tickets on mobile application through talk back facility. 

(xi) First focus on home page is being done on “From Station”  textbox. This will help users to enquire for trains running between two stations without login. After seeing preferred train and class, user will be prompted for login to continue the booking process. 

(xii) Implementation of short cut key to open Login screen, home page and registration page through keyboard. 

(xiii) Recently IRCTC has implemented Voice based Ticketing facility through Ask Disha Chatbot to help visually impaired users."