No agent bookings in first 30 minutes for AC, non-AC classes
Beginning July 1, Tatkal tickets booked through IRCTC’s official website and mobile app will be available only to users authenticated with Aadhaar, the Railway Ministry announced on Tuesday. Further, Aadhaar-based OTP authentication will become mandatory for Tatkal bookings made online starting July 15, it added
Officials said steps will help ensure that the Tatkal scheme’s benefits reach genuine, common users, adding that the changes will improve transparency and ensure that its benefits reach genuine end users.
“With an aim to ensure fair and transparent access to Tatkal tickets and to safeguard the interests of genuine passengers, Indian Railways has announced key modifications in the Tatkal ticket booking system. These changes are aimed at enhancing user authentication and reducing misuse of the scheme,” according to an official statement
Tatkal tickets booked at computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorised agents will require OTP authentication sent to the mobile number provided by the user at the time of booking.
This provision will also come into effect from July 15
To prevent bulk bookings during the critical opening period, authorised ticketing agents of Indian Railways will not be permitted to book opening-day 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.
CRIS and IRCTC have been instructed to make necessary system modifications and inform all Zonal Railways and concerned departments accordingly, the officials said, urging passengers to take note of the changes and encourage everyone to ensure Aadhaar linkage with their IRCTC user profiles to avoid inconvenience.
