Indian Railways introduces mandatory OTP verification for Tatkal ticket booking – Key changes you shouldn’t miss!Indian Railways has rolled out a new security measure for Tatkal ticket bookings. The OTP verification system, implemented on December 1, requires passengers to confirm a One-Time Password sent to their registered mobile number before their ticket is issued. “There is an important modification in the Tatkal booking system in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Railway Board. Tatkal tickets will now be issued only after authentication of a system-generated One Time Password (OTP). This OTP will be sent to the mobile number furnished by the passenger at the time of booking, and the ticket will be issued only after successful validation of the OTP,” Western Railway said in a statement,” said Western Railway in a statement.
In the first phase, the OTP-based Tatkal verification will be introduced on Train No. 12009/12010, the Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express, and will later be expanded to other trains across the network. This system will apply to all booking channels, including the IRCTC website, mobile app, and railway counters. Officials said the goal is to make Tatkal bookings more transparent and ensure that genuine passengers get better access to tickets.
How the New Counter System Works
Under the new system, passengers booking a Tatkal ticket at a reservation counter must provide a valid mobile number on their requisition form. After the booking details are entered, an OTP is instantly sent to the passenger’s number. The ticket will be issued only after the passenger reads out and verifies the OTP. If the OTP is entered incorrectly or the mobile number is wrong or inactive, the booking will not be completed. Officials say the process is quick and similar to online booking but adds an important verification step at physical counters.
Railways says this system ensures that the person requesting the Tatkal ticket is the same one who receives it, preventing mass booking or misuse through proxy identities.
Tatkal Booking 2025: Here’s how to book
Log in to your IRCTC account before the booking time to avoid last-minute issues.
Enter your source and destination stations along with the journey date.
Select the ‘Tatkal’ option in the search form, check for available trains, and choose your preferred train.
Enter passenger details such as name, age, and gender. You can use the master list feature to save your details for future bookings.
Complete the payment quickly using net banking, credit/debit cards, or digital wallets.
What Passengers Can Expect
Railways says the new OTP system will not slow down counter operations. Staff have been trained to verify OTPs quickly, and the process usually takes just a few seconds. Passengers only need to carry the mobile number listed on their form and ensure they have network access at the counter. Officials believe that once the system is fully in place, Tatkal queues will move faster, as manual errors, repeated entries, and fraudulent bookings will be greatly reduced.
Railways Aims for Full Transparency in Ticketing
The OTP verification for Tatkal counter bookings is part of a larger digital upgrade in the Railways reservation system. The ministry aims to eliminate touts and ensure a secure, verifiable booking process for both online and offline tickets. As the system is rolled out nationwide, it is expected to make Tatkal tickets more accessible to genuine passengers while preventing misuse by intermediaries.
