In India, millions rely on Indian Railways daily for various purposes, whether it’s for work, leisure, or simply because it offers a more affordable option than flying while allowing more luggage. While Indian Railways excels in providing access to remote areas and caters well to longer journeys, securing a confirmed ticket can often be a challenging experience. Hence, many people turn to the Tatkal scheme for last-minute bookings, but the system has its downsides. Ticket agents and third-party platforms sometimes make bulk reservations, making it difficult for individual travelers to secure Tatkal tickets.
And now, to enhance convenience, Indian Railways has introduced a new security measure aimed at improving the Tatkal booking process. Starting from December 1, Tatkal tickets will now only be issued after confirming a One-Time Password (OTP) sent to the traveler’s mobile phone. Read on for all the deets.
The Western Railway confirmed in a statement that this adjustment adheres to the directives of the Railway Board, stating that Tatkal tickets will only be confirmed once the system-generated OTP is successfully verified, which will be sent to the number provided at the time of booking.
Also Read: Indian Railways Introduces Reservation-Free Travel On Select Routes
What To Know About The OTP Update For Tatkal Tickets
In the first stage, the OTP-based Tatkal authentication system will be rolled out for Train No. 12009/12010, the Mumbai Central-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express. Following this, the system will be expanded to include additional trains throughout the network. This initiative aims to improve the transparency of Tatkal bookings, ensuring that genuine passengers have better access to Tatkal tickets.
Travelers can book Tatkal tickets through various platforms, such as the IRCTC website, the mobile app, and railway ticket counters.
To secure a Tatkal ticket, travelers should log into their IRCTC account ahead of the booking time to avoid any last-minute issues. You must also note that it is now mandatory for travelers to authenticate their identity using Aadhaar while booking tickets from 8 am to 10 am on the first day of the reservation period. Users who have not completed Aadhaar verification can still book tickets during other hours.
