Indian Railways has announced significant changes to its Tatkal ticket booking system, effective from July 1, to ensure fair access and curb misuse. The reforms focus on enhancing user authentication and restricting agent bookings to prioritize genuine passengers.
Starting July 1, only Aadhaar-authenticated users will be able to book Tatkal tickets through the IRCTC website and mobile app. From July 15, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will become mandatory for all online Tatkal bookings. Additionally, Tatkal tickets booked at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorized agents will require OTP verification sent to the user’s registered mobile number, also effective from July 15.
To prevent bulk bookings, authorized agents will be barred from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes of the booking window. For AC classes, this restriction applies from 10:00 AM to 10:30 AM, and for non-AC classes, from 11:00 AM to 11:30 AM.
The Ministry of Railways has directed the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and IRCTC to implement necessary system upgrades and inform all Zonal Railways. Passengers are urged to link their Aadhaar with their IRCTC profiles to avoid booking issues.
