Indian Railways Extends Reservation Chart Prep Time to 8 Hours

New Delhi, June 30 (PTI) — The Ministry of Railways has announced a change in the preparation of reservation charts for long-distance trains, moving the timeline from four hours to eight hours in advance. This decision, aimed at aiding passengers from remote areas in better planning their travel, was made in a recent review meeting led by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Under the new directive, officials are tasked with ensuring that reservation charts are ready eight hours before train departures, compared to the current practice of preparing them four hours prior. For trains scheduled to leave before 2 pm, the charts will be available by 9 pm the previous evening, with efforts underway to implement this change gradually to avoid any disruption.

The ministry highlighted that this move is designed to reduce uncertainties for those on waiting lists, as they will now receive updates on their status earlier. This initiative is particularly beneficial for passengers traveling from remote regions or the outskirts of major urban centers, as it grants them more time to arrange alternative travel options if waitlisted tickets aren't confirmed.

In another significant development, the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) is undergoing an upgrade to handle over 1.5 lakh ticket bookings per minute—an enhancement from the current capacity of 32,000 per minute. The new PRS will feature a multilingual and user-friendly interface for booking and inquiries. Users can now specify seat preferences and access a fare calendar, with additional integrated facilities designed for Divyangjan, students, and patients.

Starting July 1, only authenticated users will be permitted to book Tatkal tickets on the IRCTC website and mobile app. The ministry has underscored that by the end of July, Tatkal bookings will require OTP-based verification. Minister Vaishnaw has instructed officials to expand the authentication process for these bookings, encouraging the use of Aadhaar or other government-issued IDs available in DigiLocker for verification.

These measures are part of the Railways' ongoing commitment to modernizing its operations and enhancing the passenger experience, according to the ministry's statement.