Indian Railways brings a big change for passengers, here are 5 things you need to know
These changes are designed to ensure safety, efficiency and equity for all passengers. Here are the five most important updates every train traveler should know.
To make train travel smoother, Indian Railways announced several new regulations, which begin on May 1. These changes are designed to ensure safety, efficiency and equity for all passengers. Here are the five most important updates every train traveler should know:
1. No confirmed tickets, no entry
Passengers with a waitlist will no longer be allowed to enter the sleeper or communicate with the coach. Now only confirmed ticket holders can travel in the reserved coach. If someone is found sitting among these coaches, the TTE (Ticket Reviewer) can ask them to evacuate their seats and move to the head coach. There will be a heavy fine before doing so. The purpose is to protect passenger comfort through confirmed bookings.
2. OTP required for ticket booking
Now all passengers (registered or not) must now book tickets through the IRCTC website or app using a one-time password (OTP). This safety step ensures that the person booking the ticket is authentic and helps prevent abuse.
3. Reduced booking window
From now on, tickets can only be booked 90 days before the travel date. Earlier, tickets can be booked 120 days in advance. The rule has been proposed to prevent travel agencies from blocking tickets early and selling them at high prices.
4. Quick refund process
The refund process (which took 5 to 7 days early) will now be completed in just 2 days. This applies to online booking and over-the-counter bookings related to bank accounts.
5. Promote digital payments
India Railway will also take more steps to encourage passengers to use digital payment methods. This is part of a broader move towards cashless and transparent systems.
These changes are designed to make train travel safer and more comfortable for all passengers.
