Indian Railways reforms Tatkal ticketing scheme

Guwahati: In a major step toward making Tatkal ticket booking more transparent and accessible, Indian Railways has introduced a series of reforms aimed at preventing misuse and improving the experience for genuine passengers. These measures are particularly focused on helping individual users and the common man secure confirmed tickets without falling prey to unfair practices. Over the last six months, Indian Railways has blocked over 2.5 crore suspicious IRCTC user IDs involved in unethical booking through automated bots. To strengthen the system further, critical software changes have been put into effect from today. These reforms are already showing results, with many passengers—especially under the Northeast Frontier Railway zone—reporting successful bookings and greater satisfaction with the booking process. Looking ahead, Indian Railways will implement Aadhaar-based verification for Tatkal bookings through the IRCTC app starting from July 1, 2025. Additionally, from July 15, an OTP-based Aadhaar authentication system will be introduced, adding another layer of security to prevent identity misuse. The booking window will also be restructured to prioritize individual users. For the first 30 minutes of Tatkal bookings—10:00 to 10:30 AM for AC classes and 11:00 to 11:30 AM for non-AC—only individual passengers using the IRCTC app, website, or PRS counters will be allowed to book. Travel agents will be permitted to book tickets only after this exclusive window. Further measures include mobile number verification for Tatkal bookings made at PRS counters, starting from July 15. Passengers will receive an OTP, and tickets will be issued only upon successful mobile verification. While Aadhaar will be mandatory for online Tatkal bookings, those without Aadhaar will still be able to book tickets at counters or through authorized agents, with safeguards in place to ensure authenticity. These reforms, actively implemented by Northeast Frontier Railway, mark a significant effort to make the Tatkal ticketing system more equitable and efficient. By prioritizing genuine passengers and tightening security, Indian Railways continue to enhance the travel experience for millions across the country.