Indian Railways Announces 3 Major Upgrades from July to Make Rail Travel Easier for Common Man
New Delhi, June 30, 2025 – In a significant move to improve passenger convenience, Indian Railways has announced a series of upgrades to its Passenger Reservation System (PRS), including preparing reservation charts eight hours before departure—double the current four-hour window. The changes, aimed at reducing travel uncertainties, will be implemented in phases starting July 2025.
Key Reforms in Indian Railways’ Reservation System
1. Advanced Reservation Charting for Better Planning
Currently, reservation charts are finalized just four hours before departure, causing last-minute uncertainty for passengers, especially those traveling from remote areas. To address this, Indian Railways will now prepare charts eight hours in advance.
- For trains departing before 2 PM, charts will be prepared the previous night at 9 PM.
- Passengers with waitlisted tickets will receive early updates, allowing them to make alternate arrangements if needed.
- This change benefits travelers from suburban and distant locations, ensuring smoother boarding for long-distance trains.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that the move aligns with the ministry’s goal of a “smart, transparent, and passenger-friendly” ticketing system.
2. Upgraded Passenger Reservation System (PRS) by December 2025
The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) is developing a modernized PRS with enhanced capacity and user-friendly features:
- 1.5 lakh ticket bookings per minute (up from 32,000 currently).
- 40 lakh ticket enquiries per minute (10x increase from 4 lakh).
- Multilingual interface with seat selection options and fare calendar.
- Special provisions for Divyangjan (differently-abled), students, and patients.
3. Stricter Authentication for Tatkal Bookings
To curb misuse, Indian Railways will enforce stricter rules for Tatkal bookings:
- From July 1, 2025, only authenticated users can book Tatkal tickets via IRCTC website/app.
- OTP-based authentication will be mandatory by end-July 2025.
- Users must verify identity via Aadhaar or government IDs stored in DigiLocker.
Railway Minister’s Vision for a Passenger-Centric System
Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the progress of these reforms, stressing the need for efficiency, accessibility, and transparency. He directed officials to ensure seamless implementation without disruptions.
These upgrades mark Indian Railways’ commitment to leveraging technology for a hassle-free travel experience.
