Railways have decided to bar web-based ticket agents of IRCTC from getting access to tatkal bookings from 8 am to 9 am after receiving complaints against them from people.

Passengers have been long complaining of the IRCTC website crashing as soon as the booking commences in the morning. There are complaints that agents corner tickets during this period and tatkal quota getting exhausted within minutes, said a Railway official.

"Taking such complaints into account, Railways have decided not to give the web-based agents and webservices agents of the IRCTC access to tatkal booking from 8 am to 9 am," he said, adding the decision will be implemented shortly.

The move will, however, be temporary in nature. "We want to give individuals a chance to book their ticket without any problem and if passenger complaints are addressed through this move we would implement the decision permanently," he said.

Indian Railways sees over 9.5 lakh booking across the country each day, 30 per cent of which is done through the IRCTC portal. There are approximately about eight lakh agents under IRCTC.

According to reports, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee was also believed to have asked the Railway Board to find ways to address the issue after being inundated with such complaints.

Tatkal tickets apart, IRCTC agents will also be barred from getting access to booking berths on trains on the first day of advance reservation period.

Advance reservation period opens 90 days in advance and the agents cannot have access to booking for the first hour on the opening day, the official said.

"With this move, we want to curb the menace of touting as passengers have often complained of," he said.

Railways have also launched special drive to get rid of touts resorting to irregularities at passenger reservation counters.

The problem is more pronounced during holiday seasons and festivals.