By News18
Indian Railways has made two major changes in its reservation system, aimed at improving passenger convenience and ensuring greater transparency. From July 1, the timing for reservation chart preparation has been revised, and new authentication rules for ticket booking on the IRCTC platform have also been introduced.
New Chart Preparation Rules
Until now, Indian Railways prepared reservation charts four hours before a train鈥檚 departure. However, this has now been extended to eight hours before departure. For example, if a train is scheduled to leave before 2 pm, its reservation chart will now be prepared by 9 pm the previous day.
This change is expected to greatly benefit passengers on the waiting list, as it will give them clarity earlier and allow for better travel planning.
According to officials, the current 4-hour window often creates uncertainty, especially for those with waitlisted tickets. The Railway Board proposed the shift to provide passengers with more preparation time and reduce last-minute confusion.
New Ticket Booking Rules
From July 1, only verified users will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website and mobile app. This means no one will be able to book tickets through fake accounts. To strengthen this further, OTP-based authentication will be introduced by the end of July. Under this, users must verify their identity through Aadhaar or another government-issued ID, including via DigiLocker.
These changes aim to curb the use of unauthorised agents and brokers, ensuring that genuine passengers get fair access to tickets.
Railway Minister鈥檚 Statement
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the new reforms and emphasised that the goal is to make the ticketing system smart, transparent, and passenger-friendly. He noted that preparing the chart earlier would help reduce uncertainty and give passengers, especially those with waitlisted tickets, more time to plan their journey.
The Railways has also urged passengers to familiarise themselves with the new rules and complete the necessary ID verification process for a smoother booking experience.