Indian Railways has announced a significant overhaul of its passenger ticketing process, introducing revised guidelines for handling special travel requests, particularly for the Emergency Quota (EQ). As per a circular issued on Tuesday, passengers seeking EQ in trains must now submit their requests a full day prior to their journey. This strategic shift aims to streamline operations, prevent last-minute delays, and ensure a more predictable travel environment. These reforms underscore the commitment to modernising railway services, a critical component in fostering sustainable, well-connected, and equitable cities across the nation.
Under the updated directives, EQ requests for trains departing between 00:00 hours and 14:00 hours must reach the EQ cell by 12:00 hours on the previous day. For trains scheduled to depart between 14:01 hours and 23:59 hours, requests are to be submitted by 16:00 hours on the preceding day. Crucially, requests received on the same day as the train’s departure will no longer be accepted. This adherence to a stricter timeline is expected to significantly reduce operational pressures and improve the allocation process, ensuring that berths are managed judiciously and with common prudence, benefiting a larger segment of the travelling public.
The reforms extend beyond EQ, impacting chart preparation and Tatkal bookings. Reservation charts are now being prepared four hours before a train’s departure, with a new proposal suggesting an eight-hour advance finalisation, particularly for morning trains. Furthermore, significant enhancements to the Tatkal booking system, effective July 1, 2025, require only verified users for bookings via IRCTC platforms, with OTP-based authentication to be expanded by month-end. These digital advancements are pivotal in creating a more transparent and gender-neutral booking environment, ensuring fair access for all passengers.
A major technological leap is anticipated by December 2025 with the deployment of a new Passenger Reservation System (PRS) by CRIS. This upgraded system is projected to increase ticket booking capabilities fivefold, handling over 150,000 reservations per minute, up from the current 32,000. Its enquiry processing ability will also see a tenfold increase, accommodating over 4 million enquiries per minute. The modernised PRS will feature a user-friendly interface, multi-language support, seating preference options, and dedicated facilities for specific categories such as Divyangjan, students, and patients, promoting inclusivity.
In a move set to further benefit passengers, Indian Railways is also considering the reduction or removal of “clerkage” charges on cancelled or unconfirmed waitlisted tickets. Currently, a fee of ₹60 is applied to reserved tickets (AC and non-AC), and ₹30 for unreserved second-class tickets, even for online cancellations. If implemented, this change would alleviate financial burdens on passengers, enhancing the overall affordability and accessibility of rail travel. These holistic reforms underscore Indian Railways’ commitment to fostering a comfortable, efficient, and equitable transport ecosystem that supports the growth of sustainable urban and rural communities.
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