Reservation Ticket Rules: Indian Railways has introduced a new initiative aimed at enhancing passenger convenience and increasing transparency in the ticket booking process. Now, when purchasing Tatkal tickets at railway reservation counters, passengers must verify their identity using a one-time password (OTP) sent to their mobile phone. This new regulation is particularly relevant for those looking to book tickets for last-minute travel.
The Railway Ministry explains that the main goal of this initiative is to curb the misuse of the Tatkal ticket booking system and to ensure that passengers can easily secure tickets that are in high demand. It has been noted for some time that booking agents and certain individuals have taken advantage of the system to reserve more tickets than necessary, leaving regular passengers at a disadvantage. This new approach is expected to significantly alleviate such issues.
What changes have been made to the Tatkal ticket booking process at reservation counters?
As reported by the news agency PTI, the Railway Ministry initiated the OTP-based Tatkal ticketing system on select trains as a pilot project on November 17th. Initially rolled out on a limited number of trains, it has now been extended to 52 trains and will soon be available at all train reservation counters.
Under this new protocol, when a passenger visits a reservation counter to purchase a Tatkal ticket, they will receive an OTP on the mobile number listed in the reservation form. Tickets will only be confirmed after the OTP verification is completed, meaning that tickets cannot be booked without the OTP.
Exciting news for train travelers!
The Railway Ministry has made it clear that this initiative is designed not just to boost security, but also to enhance the convenience and transparency for passengers. This will allow authentic travelers to easily secure their tickets while preventing booking agents from exploiting the system. However, this isn’t a new approach. The Ministry has previously implemented measures to promote fairness in ticket reservations.
Back in July, it became mandatory to verify Aadhaar details through OTP for online Tatkal ticket bookings. Additionally, starting from October 1st, the initial 15 minutes of general ticket bookings will be exclusively available for passengers who have authenticated their Aadhaar. All these initiatives are focused on ensuring that the ticketing process remains fair and that genuine travelers can plan their journeys with ease.