Indian Railways Cracks Down on Tatkal Ticket Misuse: OTPs Now Mandatory at Reservation Counters
Image Source: Internet
In a bid to curb the misuse of Tatkal train tickets and ensure fair access for genuine passengers, the Indian Railways has made one-time passwords (OTPs) mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets from railway reservation counters. Starting with a pilot basis on November 17, the OTP-based system has been expanded to 52 trains and will soon be implemented across all remaining trains. The move aims to ease last-minute ticket booking for common users while preventing ticketing agents from exploiting the system for their own profit. Under the new system, passengers will receive an OTP on their mobile number, which must be verified before a Tatkal ticket is confirmed. This initiative is part of the Railway Ministry's efforts to enhance transparency, passenger convenience, and security in railway ticketing. The ministry has also introduced Aadhaar verification for online ticket reservations under the Tatkal system and restricted booking of reserved general tickets to Aadhaar-authenticated users during the first 15 minutes after bookings open. As the OTP-based Tatkal ticketing system rolls out across all trains, passengers can expect a more secure and convenient ticketing experience. The move is seen as a major step towards curbing misuse and ensuring fair access to high-demand tickets for genuine passengers.
