OTP to Be Mandatory for Tatkal Ticket Booked At the Counter Soon

If you’re someone who still goes to the railway reservation counter to grab a Tatkal ticket maybe because the IRCTC app feels chaotic at 10 AM there’s something new coming your way. The Indian Railways has started rolling out a fresh system where passengers must verify an OTP before a Tatkal ticket can be issued at the counter. Yes, OTP is just like banking, food apps, or online train bookings.

The Railways quietly ran a pilot from November 17, 2025, and it began with only a tiny batch of trains. That batch eventually went up to 52 trains, and now, officials say the idea has worked well enough to take nationwide.

No major fanfare. No flashy press event. Just a procedural announcement and suddenly it’s becoming the new rule.

What’s the Purpose?

Tatkal ticket booking has always been chaotic. People line up early in the morning, agents rush ahead, and tickets vanish in minutes. Some travellers have even complained that regardless of how early they arrive, someone always seems to get there faster.

Railways say this rule is meant to stop misuse particularly mass booking and proxy bookings at counters. You can check about the available seats using the train seat availabaility service of RailMitra.

A senior official familiar with the rollout said something along these lines during the briefing. He emphasized how It’s not just about security. It’s about fairness. Tatkal ticket should benefit actual travellers not intermediaries.

And that’s really the heart of it. Tatkal seats are limited, high in demand and often resold unofficially at premiums through shady networks. The new OTP rule forces every counter booking to be traceable to a real phone number belonging to the traveller.

How Will the New System Work?

The change sounds simple enough, though it might catch some people off guard when they arrive at a counter and suddenly hear “OTP aaya kya?”

Here’s the new flow:

• Fill the reservation slip normally.
• Add your mobile number clearly with no random digits.
• Submit it.
• The booking system sends a one-time password to that number.
• The ticket is printed only after entering and verifying the OTP.

No OTP → No Tatkal ticket.

If you’re wondering whether someone else can book it for you, yes, but the phone must be accessible at the time of booking. Once the ticket is booked you should also check the PNR Status to see if it has been Confirmed or not.

Already Rolling Out   Not a Future Plan

The first official rollout happened on the Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express (12009/12010). That train is often in demand and usually runs with high Tatkal bookings, making it a good test case. You can check the train schedule easily at RailMitra website as well as application.

Now, the ministry says implementation for remaining trains will happen “in the next few days,” which realistically means some counters may update faster than others.

So don’t be surprised if Station A asks for OTP while Station B doesn’t at least during the transition.

Part of Larger Ticketing Changes

This OTP rule isn’t coming alone. Another major adjustment is going live:

Chart preparation is shifting from 4 hours before departure to 8 hours.

This one will affect waitlisted passengers the most. Instead of finding out at the last minute whether your ticket has cleared, you’ll know earlier. That gives more time to:

• Cancel and get partial refund (if needed)
• Try another train
• Choose bus, flight or even postpone travel

Passengers have been asking for clearer communication around charting for years, so this change might be appreciated more quietly than the OTP rule.

Mixed Reactions So Far

Understandably, travellers are reacting differently. Some are relieved. A software professional waiting at Ahmedabad station put it simply:“Good. At least agents cannot book 20 tickets using fake names.” But there’s also hesitation. A retired army officer said: “If the system is down or the OTP is delayed, will everyone just wait? Tatkal timing itself is stressful.” Railway staff will likely face some heat at first, especially if there are network delays or elderly passengers unfamiliar with verification steps.

Who Does This Apply To?

The rule applies across:

• IRCTC App and Website (already active earlier)
• Reservation counters
• Authorized agents
• PRS counters nationwide

Basically, anywhere Tatkal booking happens.

This aligns counter booking with online rules introduced earlier like Aadhaar authentication during high-demand booking hours.

If You’re a Traveller   Here’s What to Remember

A few things might save you trouble:

• Carry a reachable phone
• Ensure the number written on the form is correct
• Keep the phone charged (seriously this will matter)
• Expect slight delays for the first few days

If you help someone else book their ticket, their mobile number should ideally be the one used otherwise they could face confusion later.

Why It Matters

Tatkal has always been a game of seconds. Online users fight high-speed bots; counter users race queues. For years, the system leaned in favour of whoever had access to technology or shortcuts.

By adding OTP, Aadhaar-based authentication earlier, and now earlier charting, the Railways appear to be trying to put everyone online and offline under the same fairness system.

It might not be perfect. It may create new inconveniences. But the intent is clear: more transparency, fewer loopholes.

Closing Thoughts

As the new rule expands nationwide, passengers may need a little adjustment time. But if it does what Railways hopes to stop hoarding, reduce agent interference and give genuine last-minute travellers a fair chance then this could be one of the most meaningful reforms Tatkal has seen in years.

RailMitra will continue tracking developments and sharing updates as implementation progresses.