Ever Wondered Why IRCTC Ticket Booking Is Paused From 11.45 PM To 12.30 AM

Being the backbone of India’s connectivity, railways witness a daily influx of millions of passengers embarking on their journeys. Nevertheless, because of their cost-effectiveness and various amenities, trains continue to be the go-to means of transportation for lengthy journeys.

Not only this, but railways also provide a picturesque view to their passengers, which other means of transport can’t. Before setting out on their journeys, travelers purchase reservation tickets. While some chose sleepers, others chose air-conditioned coaches. Initially, tickets could be bought through ticket windows using conventional methods, but the current trend strongly favors online ticket booking.

This practice has completely changed how tickets are acquired, making it main way to reserve seats—even for Tatkal bookings. The easy online option is available to anyone looking for Tatkal tickets between the hours of 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. On the other hand, people choosing general admission tickets have the option to buy them whenever they want, giving them the opportunity to select an appropriate time.

Yet, you should be aware that every 24 hours, there are 45 minutes whenever a ticket of any kind is not reserved. Yes, you read it right. Indian Railways does not process ticket bookings between 11:45 p.m. and 12:30 a.m.

Nevertheless, there is a significant reason behind this. So, let’s delve into the reasons underlying this peculiar phenomenon.

Why IRCTC’s ticket booking pause during midnight?

In the past, Indian Railways had a deadline for ticket sales of 11:30 p.m., indicating that ticket sales were suspended for nearly an hour. This caused inconvenience to passengers, prompting the authorities to take action and revise the ticket booking deadline.

As a result, the window for purchasing tickets was extended until 11:45 p.m., shortening the time until tickets could be purchased by 15 minutes. However, the intriguing question remains: why is ticket booking suspended for those 45 minutes?

The major cause of Indian Railways’ brief suspension of ticket sales from 11:45 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. is server maintenance

The railway system performs server upgrades and maintenance procedures during this time. This crucial procedure guarantees the server’s flawless operation and enhances its efficiency, ensuring a seamless experience for travelers all day long.

As a consequence of the server maintenance activities, passengers face limitations during this period. Passengers cannot check the train timetable, order tickets online, or access information using the PNR number. As the system needs repair, the entire operation comes to a standstill, disrupting services for tickets.

It is noteworthy that the IRCTC website receives between 7 and 8 lakh daily ticket bookings from users of the Indian Railways, which is astounding. As the second-largest rail network in the world, the interchange of this much data about transactions and ticket bookings requires the designated period from 11:45 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

During this 45-minute window, crucial data transfers and synchronization occur, ensuring the integrity and accuracy of the system. The goal is to ensure the overall effectiveness of the ticketing process by avoiding any potential problems brought on by duplicate copies or data discrepancies.

While the data transfer procedure is underway, engaging in any kind of ticket purchase or transaction activity may cause issues. As a result, there is a question about the integrity of the data, and the transaction might fail, causing hassles for both the passengers and the railway authorities.

Consequently, Indian Railways wisely refrains from undertaking any ticketing operations during this 45-minute window, prioritizing the seamless functioning of their server infrastructure.