Hyderabad: Indian Railways is set to implement mandatory e-Aadhaar verification for booking Tatkal tickets, aiming to prevent misuse by travel agents and automated systems. Tatkal tickets, which constitute 20% of the total available seats and open for booking one day prior to travel, are highly sought after for last-minute journeys. The booking window opens at 10 AM for AC class passengers and 11 AM for non-AC travelers. However, tickets are often sold out within seconds, leaving many genuine passengers disappointed.
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Previously, advance booking was allowed up to 120 days before travel, but this period has been reduced to 60 days. The move to enforce e-Aadhaar verification, announced by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, seeks to ensure that Tatkal tickets are allocated to actual travelers rather than being hoarded by agents for resale at inflated prices. This initiative is expected to enhance fairness and accessibility in ticket booking, particularly benefiting last-minute travelers.
Bharatiya Railways will soon start using e-Aadhaar authentication to book Tatkal tickets.
This will help genuine users get confirmed tickets during need.
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) June 4, 2025