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To prevent irregularities in Tatkal tickets, Indian Railways has now made mobile OTP verification mandatory at the station counter. The passenger will not get the ticket without verifying the OTP received on the mobile number given in the form. This system has been implemented in 52 trains and will soon be implemented in all trains. Railways is calling this a part of a larger exercise to bring strictness on brokers and transparency in the ticketing system.
New Delhi. Indian Railways has now added a new security layer to prevent games in Tatkal ticket booking. Now those taking Tatkal tickets from the reservation counter of the station will have to confirm their identity with the OTP received on their mobile. Railways claims that this will stop black ticket booking through brokers to a great extent.
The new system started as a pilot from November 17 and was initially applicable on only a few trains, but now it has been extended to 52 trains. In the coming days, this system will be applicable on all trains. Railways is calling this a part of major reforms in the ticketing system.
How will OTP system work?
When a passenger fills the form for Tatkal ticket at the counter, an OTP will be sent to the mobile number given in that form. The ticket will be issued only when the passenger enters this OTP. Railways believes that this will prevent fake bookings and entry of brokers to a great extent because every booking will be directly linked to a mobile number.
How will the game of brokers be stopped?
Tatkal tickets are anyway limited and are in high demand during peak season. Till now, brokers used to book tickets by tricking the system in different ways. But due to OTP based identification, only the person who gives the number in the form will be able to get the ticket. According to officials, this step will bring relief to those traveling suddenly and who actually need the ticket.
Major changes taking place in the ticketing system
This year, Railways has made changes in the ticketing system at many levels. In July, Aadhaar based OTP verification was introduced for online Tatkal tickets so that tickets are not booked through bots or fake IDs. From October, the first 15 minutes of opening of booking on the IRCTC website were reserved only for Aadhaar authenticated users. Railways says that these steps will increase transparency and the chances of genuine passengers getting tickets will also be strengthened.
