The Indian Railways just put in place a new rule that will change how people book train tickets online. Verified users will be the only ones able to book seats for the first 15 minutes of the booking window.
This choice was made to protect real passengers from unfair practices and to make the ticketing system more open. People think the change is a good one because tickets are always in high demand.
What’s the new rule?
The rule is easy to understand and strong. For the first 15 minutes after the IRCTC booking window starts, only accounts that have been verified will be able to buy train tickets.The Indian Railway is making sure that bots, touts, and agents can’t block a lot of tickets this way. It’s meant to keep things fair and easy for regular people who use the train network to get to. The Indian Railway has been making a lot of digital changes over the last few years, and this rule is one of them.
What made Indian Railway make this rule?
India has a huge desire for tickets. Train tickets for popular lines sell out very quickly. Many of these tickets are unfortunately stopped by people who aren’t supposed to be there and then sold again for more money. The Indian Railways knew about this issue and thought that verified booking would be the best way to fix it. The method gives honest travellers a fair chance by letting only verified users in for the first 15 minutes.
People who use the railway should trust the government more after this change.
How is verification going to work?
It will be checked through the IRCTC site. People who want to board will have to show proof of who they are, like Aadhaar, PAN, or another accepted ID. Once the user’s account is verified, they will have special access for the first 15 minutes that tickets are available, which is very important. This means that verified passengers will have a better chance of getting confirmed train tickets on lines that are already busy.
The process is meant to be easy, and users will only have to confirm once, rather than every time they make a reservation.
Changes to how tickets are booked online
The new rule will change how it is to buy train tickets online. The method will feel smoother and more fair for people who use it often. Lots of tickets will be harder to stop, which will cut down on sales on the black market. This new rule is hard for agents because it takes away some of their unfair edge. For updates and advisories, travelers should regularly check the Indian Railways official website.
The Indian Railway thinks that this change will also cut down on complaints about not being able to get tickets.
Good Things For Passengers
Passengers will gain in many ways from the addition of verified booking.
First, it makes sure that everyone has a good chance to get one of the few seats available. Bots will no longer get in the way of real people who need to move. Second, it makes it less likely that people will hoard tickets. It’s harder for agents to keep supply under control when bookings are verified. Third, it becomes easier to trust the booking process itself. Accounts that have been verified move through the system more quickly, making transactions go more smoothly. Most importantly, it makes people believe the Indian Railway booking process even more, which millions of people use every day.
Possible Problems to Come
Even if there are some benefits and some problems. There are some people don’t feel safe with digital verification. People in rural areas who don’t have easy access to technology may have problems. Some people may also be worried about giving out their IDs online.
So, the Indian Railway needs to make sure that the process of checking is safe, easy, and open to everyone. As more people get used to them, these problems should get easier over time.
What can passengers do to get ready?
Before rushing to book your next train ticket, take a quick pause. Head over to the IRCTC portal and complete the verification process first—it’ll save you time later. Keeping your ID handy makes the whole process smoother and faster. The Indian Railways also reminds passengers that those first 15 minutes can make a big difference. If you plan ahead, you won’t find yourself stuck with last-minute hassles.
A little preparation today means booking your train tickets tomorrow will be stress-free and easy.
It has bigger effects on the Indian Railway
This new rule isn’t just about tickets. It shows that the Indian Railway is trying to become more modern and open. India’s main goal is to have safe digital government, and these kinds of digital reforms help them reach that goal. Some other public transport methods might even be able to learn from it.
What Passengers Have Said So Far
People have different thoughts on the new rule. A lot of people are happy about it because it means buying train tickets will finally be fair. Some people are worried about technology problems, especially when it’s busy.
Some people are still wary and want to see how well the system works in real time, But People who move a lot are hoping that the rule will stop people from selling tickets on the black market.
In conclusion
They did something brave to make it more fair to book trains online. To protect real passengers, this new rule makes sure that during the first 15 minutes, only verified users can book seats. It may seem like a small change, but it could be the start of an easier and more trustworthy way to book a ticket in India. There may still be problems, like getting online or proving your identity, but the pros definitely outweigh the cons.
It’s clear to visitors: sign up for an account early. It will make the process of making the reservation easier and less stressful. This move by Indian Railways does more than just improve its services; it also shows that trust and fairness are important.
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