OTP now mandatory for Tatkal window tickets:Nationwide rollout soon to make counter bookings secure; railways to prepare charts 8 hours before departure

Indian Railways is introducing a new security step for Tatkal tickets booked at station counters. Passengers will now need to verify an OTP sent to their mobile number before their ticket is confirmed. This system will be rolled out across all trains in the coming days. The Railways has also decided to increase the chart preparation time from 4 hours to 8 hours before departure, giving waiting-list passengers more time to plan their travel. A pilot project on 52 trains, started on November 17, showed successful results. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has approved the extended chart timing and the OTP system. These measures aim to curb misuse of Tatkal quota and make the process smoother for genuine passengers. Aadhaar verification for online Tatkal booking and OTP for general reservations are already in place. OTP Verification to Curb Fake Bookings Tatkal tickets are in high demand, often leading to long queues at booking counters. Under the new system, when a passenger books a Tatkal ticket at the counter, an OTP will be sent to their registered mobile number. The ticket will be confirmed only after entering this OTP, ensuring that fraudulent or proxy bookings are prevented. Railways officials say the OTP system for general reservation—launched in October 2025—has been running smoothly and has received positive feedback. Aadhaar-based authentication for online Tatkal booking, added in July 2025, has also helped reduce fraud. Extending similar safeguards to counter bookings will make the entire process more secure and transparent. New System to Roll Out Nationwide in the Coming Days The OTP-based verification system was first tested on 52 trains starting November 17, 2025. After receiving positive results, Indian Railways has decided to extend it to all remaining trains over the next few days. The rollout will happen in phases to ensure a smooth transition. Along with this, the Railways has also announced a change in chart preparation timing. Currently, train charts are prepared 4 hours before departure. Under the new system, they will be prepared 8 hours in advance. This change, approved by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, will help passengers know their wait-list status earlier and give them more time to plan alternatives. For instance, if your ticket doesn’t get confirmed, you can look for another train or arrange local travel well in advance. Why These Changes Were Needed There have been long-standing complaints about misuse of the Tatkal quota. Tickets were often booked at counters without proper verification, allowing agents or unauthorized people to take advantage, while genuine passengers suffered. To fix this, the Railways has introduced several reforms in recent months. Now, Tatkal counter bookings are being brought under the same secure system. A railway official said, “These changes are for the convenience of passengers. We want everyone to get tickets easily.” Extending chart preparation time is also expected to benefit millions of travelers. Railways Moving Toward a Fully Digital Ticketing System Indian Railways is rapidly upgrading its ticketing process to make it more digital and transparent. After implementing OTP verification, the next focus will be on improving the IRCTC app. Features like face recognition or biometric verification may also be introduced in the future. The phased rollout of the new chart system will take place across all zones, ensuring everything works smoothly. All these changes are expected to be fully implemented by the end of 2025. Passengers booking Tatkal tickets should make sure their mobile number is updated, otherwise they may face issues with OTP verification. ​