Indian Railways has introduced new measures to simplify the ticket reservation process. Going forward, reservation charts for trains will now be published eight hours in advance, instead of the current four-hour window before departure. This change aims to reduce uncertainty among passengers regarding ticket confirmation.
According to the Railways, for trains scheduled to depart before 2 PM, the reservation chart will now be released at 9 PM the previous night. The railway minister has instructed that these changes be implemented in a phased manner to ensure a smooth transition.
In another major update, the Railways has announced that Aadhaar will be made mandatory for purchasing time-based tickets starting from July 1. Additionally, Aadhaar-based OTP verification will be made compulsory by the end of July, enhancing authentication and security in ticket bookings.
A series of other changes are also being introduced, including updates to the railway app and waiting list procedures. Officials stated that all decisions are being made in consultation with the public. However, there remain concerns and complaints among passengers about various aspects of railway services.
To address these, a new amendment now allows passengers to apply for a refund in case of any inconvenience experienced during their train journey. The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) offers the facility to file a Ticket Deposit Receipt (TDR) under several conditions, such as trains running late by more than three hours, malfunctioning AC units, route changes, or missed connections due to delays.
If your train is diverted, delayed, or a coach is changed, passengers can file a TDR through the IRCTC website or mobile app and claim a refund. This amendment is expected to improve passenger satisfaction and accountability in services.
