Railways to Introduce Mandatory OTP Verification for Tatkal Tickets at Counters
The Railways Ministry is set to introduce mandatory OTP verification for all Tatkal tickets booked at reservation counters, aiming to curb misuse and ensure fair access for genuine passengers.
The system, launched on November 17 as a pilot for select trains, has now been expanded to 52 trains and will soon roll out nationwide. Passengers must provide a valid mobile number, and ticket confirmation will be completed only after OTP verification.
The move targets misuse of last-minute Tatkal bookings by agents and supports the ministry’s broader strategy to improve transparency. This follows earlier measures such as Aadhaar-based OTP verification for online Tatkal bookings and Aadhaar authentication during the first 15 minutes of general quota booking.
Officials said the combined use of Aadhaar and mobile OTP will enhance security, fairness, and convenience for passengers.
