Indian Railways Enhances Ticket Booking System for Improved Passenger Experience

Improvements in Passenger Reservation System

To streamline the ticket booking process, Indian Railways is making significant enhancements to its Passenger Reservation System (PRS). Recently, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw reviewed the progress of these improvements, emphasizing the need for a ticketing system that is smart, transparent, accessible, and efficient, with a strong focus on passenger convenience. One of the key proposed changes involves refining the process of preparing the reservation chart. The minister has approved this proposal and instructed for a phased implementation to ensure smooth transitions.

Review of Ongoing Improvements in Ticket Reservation System

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has recently assessed the ongoing enhancements in the passenger ticket reservation system, highlighting the necessity for a smart, transparent, accessible, and efficient ticketing system focused on passenger amenities. According to the ministry, under Vaishnaw's guidance, officials are working towards preparing the reservation chart eight hours prior to train departures instead of the current four hours.

Benefits for Long-Distance Train Passengers

The ministry stated in a press release that this change will benefit passengers boarding long-distance trains from remote locations or suburban areas of major cities. It will also provide additional time for alternative arrangements in case of unconfirmed waitlist tickets.

Enhanced Booking Capacity with New PRS

The new advanced Passenger Reservation System (PRS) will facilitate over 150,000 ticket bookings per minute, significantly higher than the current capacity of 32,000 tickets per minute.

User-Friendly Booking and Inquiry Features

The ministry has announced that the new PRS will include multilingual and user-friendly booking and inquiry features. Users will be able to specify their preferred seats and view fare lists. Additionally, integrated facilities will be available for persons with disabilities, students, and patients.

Instant Ticket Booking via Mobile App

The ministry has indicated that streamlined authentication for instant bookings will commence on July 1, 2025, allowing only verified users to book instant tickets through the IRCTC website and mobile app. It was emphasized that OTP-based authentication for instant bookings will be implemented by the end of July.

Preparation of Train Charts Eight Hours in Advance

Currently, Indian Railways prepares the reservation chart four hours before train departures, which creates uncertainty for those traveling from nearby locations to board their trains. To address this concern, a new proposal suggests preparing the reservation chart eight hours prior to departure. For trains scheduled before 2:00 PM, the chart will be finalized the previous day by 9:00 PM. The railway minister has supported this suggestion and directed for a phased implementation to ensure smooth transitions. This revised system will provide clarity to passengers holding waitlist tickets, allowing them to receive updates on their waitlist status more effectively.