Indian Railways Enhances Reservation System for Better Travel Planning

The Ministry of Railways has announced a new initiative to prepare reservation charts for long-distance trains eight hours before departure, enhancing travel planning for passengers from remote areas. This upgrade, discussed in a recent meeting led by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, aims to provide more time for travelers to make alternative arrangements if needed. The new Passenger Reservation System will also allow for significantly increased ticket bookings per minute and will feature a user-friendly interface. Starting July 2025, only authenticated users will be able to book Tatkal tickets, ensuring a more secure and efficient process. These changes reflect the Railways' commitment to modernization and improved customer service.
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Indian Railways Enhances Reservation System for Better Travel Planning

New Reservation Timeline for Long-Distance Trains


New Delhi: In a significant move, the Ministry of Railways has announced that reservation charts for long-distance trains will now be prepared eight hours prior to departure, an increase from the previous four-hour timeframe. This change aims to assist passengers from remote areas in planning their travel more effectively.


This decision was made during a recent meeting led by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, as stated by the ministry.


Under the new guidelines, officials are tasked with generating the reservation chart eight hours ahead of the train's scheduled departure, enhancing convenience for travelers.


The ministry noted, "This adjustment will particularly aid passengers coming from distant locations or the outskirts of major cities, allowing them ample time to arrange alternative travel plans if their waitlist status is not confirmed."


Additionally, the upgraded Passenger Reservation System (PRS) is set to facilitate over 150,000 ticket bookings per minute, a substantial increase from the current capacity of 32,000 tickets per minute.


The new PRS will feature a multilingual and user-friendly interface for booking and inquiries.


Passengers will have the option to select their preferred seats and access a fare calendar. The system will also include integrated services for Divyangjan, students, and patients.


Starting July 1, 2025, Indian Railways will permit only verified users to book Tatkal tickets via the IRCTC website and mobile app.


The ministry highlighted that OTP-based authentication will be implemented for Tatkal bookings by the end of July.


Minister Vaishnaw has directed officials to expand the authentication process for Tatkal bookings.


The statement emphasized that authentication should utilize Aadhaar or any other valid government ID stored in the user's DigiLocker account.


These initiatives reflect the Railways' ongoing commitment to modernizing its systems and enhancing user experience.


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