New Delhi, July 1: Indian Railways will implement sweeping changes to its passenger reservation system from July 1, including a higher waiting list cap for AC coaches, mandatory Aadhaar-based verification for Tatkal bookings, and a modest fare hike on long-distance routes, the Ministry of Railways said.
The reforms aim to streamline ticketing operations, improve transparency, and expand access to high-demand bookings. The move comes as part of a broader push toward a digital-first, equitable reservation framework.
Under the new rules, the cap on waiting list tickets for air-conditioned coaches will rise from 25% to 60% of total berth capacity. For non-AC sleeper and second-class coaches, the waiting list will be fixed at 30%. The decision follows complaints from zonal railways over capacity underutilisation and passenger inconvenience.
In a significant procedural shift, the first reservation chart will now be prepared eight hours before train departure, instead of the earlier window of four hours. The change has been piloted on select trains and will now be implemented more broadly.
Effective July 1, all Tatkal bookings—both online and through Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters—must be made using Aadhaar-linked user IDs. From July 15, passengers will also be required to verify their identity through a one-time password (OTP) sent to their Aadhaar-linked mobile numbers to complete bookings.
To curb bulk bookings by intermediaries, agents will be prohibited from booking Tatkal tickets during the first 30 minutes after the quota opens each day.
The Railway Ministry also announced a nominal fare increase—the first since 2020. Fares for non-AC Mail and Express trains will rise by ₹0.01 per kilometre, while AC classes will see a hike of ₹0.02 per kilometre. There will be no change in fares for suburban services, second-class travel under 500 kilometres, or monthly season tickets.
Officials said that all zonal railways and ticketing partners have been directed to implement the changes uniformly starting July 1. The Ministry said the new measures are designed to ensure better availability of tickets, discourage misuse of quotas, and prepare the system for more robust digital integration.
