In a significant move aimed at curbing black marketing and ensuring fair access to Tatkal tickets, Indian Railways has announced a major change in the Tatkal ticket booking process. Going forward, Aadhaar card verification will be mandatory for booking Tatkal tickets. This development is a direct response to a recent survey by LocalCircles that exposed widespread irregularities in the Tatkal booking system.
What Prompted the Change?
The LocalCircles survey brought to light shocking insights:
Nearly 50% of Tatkal tickets were being booked within the first 5 minutes of the booking window opening.
A large number of these bookings were being done using fake IDs and automated bots operated by agents.
The result was that genuine passengers were often left without tickets, struggling to compete against fraudulent practices.
Moreover, website hang-ups and technical glitches were common during the initial moments of Tatkal bookings, further frustrating users. Responding quickly, the Indian Railways deactivated 2.5 crore (25 million) fake IDs, demonstrating its commitment to a cleaner and more reliable ticketing ecosystem.
Aadhaar-Based Verification to the Rescue
Under the new system, Aadhaar verification will be a prerequisite for booking Tatkal tickets. Here's how the process will work:
In the first 10 minutes of the Tatkal booking window, only users with Aadhaar-linked accounts will be allowed to book tickets.
Users without Aadhaar verification will be allowed to book Tatkal tickets only after three days.
This ensures that priority is given to genuine passengers, reducing the chances of bots or fake IDs exploiting the system.
This step is expected to drastically reduce black marketing and restore fairness in the ticketing process.
Artificial Intelligence Joins the Effort
To further streamline the booking experience, Indian Railways has also introduced an AI-based system to enhance the speed of ticket bookings per minute. This move aims to ensure quicker, smoother, and more transparent bookings, minimizing delays and server load during peak hours.
Key Questions Remain
While these reforms mark a promising start, they also raise a few critical questions:
Will Aadhaar verification and AI integration eliminate the website crash issues that users face during peak booking times?
Will every genuine passenger now get a fair chance at booking tickets under this new system?
The Ministry of Railways has acknowledged these concerns and assured that continuous improvements will be made to the system to address all pain points.
A New Beginning for Tatkal Bookings
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized that these changes are just the beginning of a broader initiative aimed at improving the overall ticket booking experience. He stated that the goal is to make sure more passengers get confirmed tickets without hassle.
In conclusion, while the road to a completely flawless system may still be long, the introduction of Aadhaar-based verification, AI-powered booking, and the deactivation of millions of fake accounts represent a strong and much-needed push towards transparency and fairness in Indian Railways’ ticketing system.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is based on official announcements, media reports, and public surveys. Readers are advised to verify updates from official Indian Railways sources before making travel plans.
