In a major shift, Indian Railways will allow passengers to select their preferred seats while booking tickets, much like airlines. The updated system will also include a fare calendar, enabling travelers to pick cost-effective dates for their journeys. These changes aim to provide a smarter and more transparent experience for passengers planning their travel.
New Features for Special Categories
The new system will integrate features catering to divyangjan, students, and patients, offering a more inclusive and accessible booking platform. This aligns with the Railways Ministry’s goal of creating an efficient and user-friendly ticketing system.
Reservation Charts to be Finalised Sooner
One of the most practical upgrades will be the early finalisation of reservation charts. Instead of the current four-hour window, charts will now be prepared eight hours before a train’s departure. For morning trains leaving before 2 pm, charts will be ready by 9 pm the previous evening. This gives passengers—especially those from remote areas—more time to plan or revise travel arrangements.
Tech-Powered Performance Boost
The new Modern Passenger Reservation System (PRS), developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS), will be five times faster than the current one. It will handle up to 1.5 lakh bookings per minute and manage more than 40 lakh enquiries at the same time. A multilingual and mobile-friendly interface will ensure better access for users across India.
Verified Tatkal Bookings Begin July 1
To prevent misuse and fraud, only verified users will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC platform starting July 1. The authentication process will include Aadhaar or government ID verification via DigiLocker. OTP-based login will follow later in the month, making the ticketing process more secure and transparent.
With a wide range of improvements in place, Indian Railways is preparing for a digital transformation that places passenger convenience, speed, and transparency at the forefront.
