NewKerala.com

Key Points

Indian Railways is now preparing reservation charts 8 hours before train departure, doubling the previous 4-hour window. This change aims to ease uncertainty for waitlisted passengers and improve travel planning. The move is part of broader reforms, including an upgraded Passenger Reservation System set for 2025. Additionally, Tatkal bookings will soon require OTP-based authentication for enhanced security.

Key Points: Indian Railways to Prepare Reservation Charts 8 Hours Before Departure

  • New chart timing reduces waitlist uncertainty for passengers
  • Early updates help travelers from remote areas plan better
  • Upgraded PRS to handle 1.5 lakh bookings per minute
  • Tatkal bookings to require OTP-based authentication from July
2 min read

Indian Railways to now prepare reservation charts 8 hours before train departure

Indian Railways advances reservation chart timing to 8 hours before departure, easing waitlist uncertainty and improving passenger convenience.

"The entire ticketing experience should be smart, transparent, and efficient, keeping passenger convenience at the centre. – Ashwini Vaishnaw"

New Delhi, June 29

In a major move to enhance passenger convenience, Indian Railways on Sunday announced that it has decided to prepare the reservation chart 8 hours before the train's departure, instead of the current practice of 4 hours.

This change is aimed at reducing the uncertainty faced by passengers, especially those with waitlisted tickets.

The decision was taken after Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the progress of reforms in the ticket booking system.

He stressed that the entire ticketing experience should be smart, transparent, and efficient, keeping passenger convenience at the centre.

As per the new plan, for trains that depart before 2 p.m., the reservation chart will be prepared the night before at 9 p.m.

This change will be implemented in a phased manner to ensure a smooth transition without any disruption.

The move will especially benefit passengers coming from remote areas or the suburbs of big cities, as they will now get more time to check their ticket status and make alternative travel arrangements if needed.

Passengers with waitlist tickets will get early updates on their ticket confirmation status, making their travel plans more predictable.

Along with this, Indian Railways is also working on upgrading its Passenger Reservation System (PRS), which is expected to be completed by December 2025.

The new PRS is being developed by the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) and will be capable of handling ten times the current load.

Once implemented, it will allow booking of over 1.5 lakh tickets per minute and handle more than 40 lakh ticket enquiries per minute.

The upgraded PRS will offer a user-friendly and multilingual interface, with new features such as fare calendars, seat preference options, and integrated support for Divyangjan, students, and patients.

Additionally, starting from July 1, only authenticated users will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website and mobile app.

By the end of July, Tatkal bookings will require OTP-based authentication using Aadhaar or any other verified government ID linked to the user’s DigiLocker.

- IANS

Share this article:

Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Good initiative but implementation is key. Hope they don't mess up like they did with the new IRCTC website last year. Also, what about refunds if tickets don't get confirmed? The process still takes weeks!
A
Aditya G
As someone who frequently travels from tier-2 cities, this is a blessing. Earlier we had to reach station without knowing ticket status. Now can plan better. Kudos to Railway Ministry!
S
Sarah B
The new PRS system sounds promising but December 2025 is too far away. Indian Railways needs to work faster on digital transformation. Other countries have much better systems already.
K
Kavya N
Acha hai par ticket prices bhi thoda kam karo! Middle class families are struggling with increased fares. Also, what about cleanliness in trains? That needs equal attention.
V
Vikram M
The Tatkal authentication is much needed to stop touts. But hope the OTP process won't make booking more difficult for senior citizens who aren't tech-savvy.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Leave a Comment

Minimum 50 characters 0/50