Travelling by train in India is about to get smarter and smoother. In a move aimed at improving passenger experience and eliminating last-minute chaos, Indian Railways has unveiled major reforms in its Tatkal booking process, reservation charting system, and ticketing infrastructure.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the goal of making the system “smart, transparent, and passenger-friendly” while ensuring convenience and speed at every step.
Key Changes You Should Know
Reservation Charts Will Be Prepared Earlier
Currently prepared 4 hours before departure, the new system will prep charts 8 hours prior.
For morning trains (before 2 PM), charting will be done by 9 PM the previous night.
This change gives waitlisted passengers more time to make alternate travel plans.
Stricter Tatkal Booking Authentication
From July 1, users must authenticate Tatkal bookings using Aadhaar or other government ID via DigiLocker.
By the end of July, OTP-based verification will become mandatory to curb misuse and ensure genuine bookings.
What’s New in the Upgraded PRS?
The Passenger Reservation System (PRS) is undergoing its biggest tech overhaul in decades:
Ticket booking capacity will jump from 32,000 to 1.5 lakh per minute
Enquiry capacity will increase 10X, supporting over 40 lakh requests per minute
Multilingual interface with a smart seat selector and fare calendar
Special features for Divyangjan, students, and patients
The new PRS is expected to go live by December 2025, offering faster, scalable, and more inclusive ticketing.
These reforms come as Indian Railways aims to modernize its services for 81 crore+ annual ticket reservations, offering faster access, more control, and less uncertainty for passengers—especially those booking from remote or rural areas.
With smarter charting and tighter authentication, this overhaul is set to redefine the way India travels by train.
