Railway Rules: Indian Railways has taken a significant step to enhance passenger convenience and increase transparency in the ticketing process. Now, even tickets purchased at the counter will only be issued after OTP verification. The Railways claims that this new system will help prevent ticket misuse and offer genuine passengers a more reliable and convenient service. A statement from Indian Railways indicated that this system will be rolled out at all reservation counters nationwide in the coming days.
OTP will also be applicable for window Tatkal tickets
It is important to mention that in July, the Railways introduced the Aadhaar OTP system for online Tatkal tickets. This was succeeded by the launch of an OTP-based online ticketing system for all general reservation bookings in October. Both initiatives received positive feedback from passengers, enhancing the transparency of the ticketing process.
How will this system function?
As per the announcement, the Railways initiated a pilot project for the OTP-based Tatkal ticketing system for counter bookings in November. Currently, this system has been implemented on 52 trains. With this system, when purchasing Tatkal tickets at the counter, an OTP is sent to the mobile number provided in the passenger’s form, and the ticket is issued only after the verification process. This system will be extended to all remaining trains in the near future. The Railways has emphasized that this measure is a crucial step towards reducing the misuse of Tatkal tickets and delivering a more convenient, transparent, and reliable ticketing service to genuine passengers.
What is the schedule for Tatkal ticket booking?
Tatkal ticket booking on Indian Railways opens precisely one day prior to the travel date. Booking starts at 10:00 AM for AC classes and at 11:00 AM for non-AC classes. For instance, if your journey is on December 12th, Tatkal tickets for AC classes can be booked starting at 10:00 AM on December 11th, and for non-AC classes from 11:00 AM on the same day.
Railway plans to implement OTP based window tickets in tatkal within the next few days. pic.twitter.com/25wRn2wtwt
— South Central Railway (@SCRailwayIndia) December 3, 2025
