Every day at 10 AM, millions of travellers across India scramble to book Tatkal tickets, but the process is often plagued with issues such as server slowdowns, payment failures, and the frustrating experience of tickets disappearing within moments. In many cases, this drives passengers to rely on booking agents, who take advantage of the high demand by charging excessively for confirmed tickets.
Tatkal ticket booking has been a major source of stress for Indian passengers for years. At exactly 10 AM, the booking window opens, but the website and app often face significant traffic, leading to technical glitches. Users frequently report slow response times, with many unable to complete bookings before tickets are sold out. This rush results in the emergence of corrupt booking agents who exploit the situation, purchasing tickets at regular rates and then reselling them at inflated prices to desperate travellers.
In response to the growing concerns and public pressure, the Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, announced that Indian Railways would soon implement e-Aadhaar authentication for booking Tatkal tickets. This move aims to ensure that only genuine travellers are able to secure tickets during the Tatkal booking process, minimising fraudulent bookings and improving the overall efficiency of the system.
The use of e-Aadhaar for authentication will help in confirming the identity of the passengers in real time, reducing the chances of manipulation and ensuring that tickets are sold to the right people. This system will enable passengers to book tickets more swiftly, allowing for a smoother and more reliable experience.
The introduction of e-Aadhaar authentication is a strategic move by the Indian Railways to address the widespread manipulation of the Tatkal booking system. The new system will require passengers to authenticate their identities using their Aadhaar number, a biometric-based identification system. This step is aimed at eliminating the practice of third-party agents exploiting the booking system.
The decision follows a troubling discovery by IRCTC, which reported that between January and May 2025, a staggering 2.9 lakh suspicious PNRs were generated within minutes of the booking window opening. This raised alarms within the Railways, highlighting the need for a secure and efficient mechanism to curb the manipulation of the Tatkal system.
By introducing e-Aadhaar authentication, the Indian Railways hopes to streamline the booking process and ensure that genuine passengers can quickly secure confirmed tickets, especially during peak demand periods.
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With the new e-Aadhaar authentication system in place, passengers can expect a more secure and fair Tatkal booking process. The Indian Railways is working to ensure that only legitimate travellers will be able to book tickets, and this move is expected to significantly reduce fraud.
As the implementation of the system progresses, it is likely that other improvements will be made to further enhance the Tatkal booking process. This could include better server infrastructure, improved user interfaces on the website and app, and more robust measures to prevent manipulation.
In the coming months, the government’s initiative promises to bring about a fairer, more transparent ticket booking experience, making it easier for genuine passengers to secure tickets when they need them most.
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Published on: Jun 5, 2025, 2:29 PM IST
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