Indian Railways Rolls Out New Booking Rules to Improve Efficiency
In a significant move aimed at streamlining passenger services, Indian Railways has released a new circular mandating several changes in its booking system. As per the latest directive, all Emergency Quota (EQ) requests must now be submitted at least one day prior to the date of travel.
The change is part of a broader strategy to enhance operational efficiency, minimize delays, and ensure timely preparation of reservation charts.
Additionally, the circular includes reforms to the Tatkal booking process and updates to charting protocols, ensuring smoother passenger flow and reducing last-minute operational bottlenecks.
These updates reflect Indian Railways’ ongoing efforts to modernize its systems under its digital and service improvement agenda.
Revises Emergency Quota (EQ) allocation system
Indian Railways has issued a new circular revising its Emergency Quota (EQ) allocation system, requiring all requests to be submitted at least a day before travel. This is part of a broader push to streamline operations and prevent delays in train departures and reservation chart preparation.
According to the circular issued, EQ requests for trains departing between 12:00 am and 2:00 pm must reach the EQ cell by 12:00 pm on the previous day, or at the very least 12 hours before the booking time. For trains departing between 2:01 pm and 11:59 pm, the cutoff is 4:00 pm the preceding day. Same-day EQ requests will no longer be accepted.
In the case of Sundays or public holidays, requests must be submitted on the last working day prior. “Requests for release of accommodation in trains on Sundays or clubbed holidays must be received during office hours on the previous working day,’ the circular stated.
The EQ cell handles high volumes of priority requests from VIPs, senior officials, and government departments. The Ministry of Railways emphasized the need for stricter adherence to timelines to avoid passenger inconvenience and operational hiccups. ‘Allotments must be timely to ensure chart preparation isn’t delayed, as it can severely impact passengers and cause train delays,’ it noted.
Authorities have been directed to verify each EQ request thoroughly to prevent misuse. These updates come alongside wider reforms to the Indian Railways ticketing system.
As part of recent changes, reservation charts for trains departing before 2:00 pm will now be finalized at 9:00 pm the previous evening, providing better clarity to passengers.
Tatkal booking has also undergone changes. From July 1, only verified users can book Tatkal tickets on IRCTC. OTP-based login using Aadhaar or government ID via DigiLocker will become mandatory by the end of the month.
New PRS is expected to launch by December
Looking ahead, a new Passenger Reservation System (PRS) is expected to launch by December 2025. According to reports, it will be capable of processing 1.5 lakh ticket bookings per minute—five times the current rate—and handle up to 4 million enquiries per minute. Features will include multilingual support, fare calendars, seat preferences, and specialized booking options for students, Divyangjan, and patients.
Indian Railways is also considering removing clerkage charges on cancelled or unconfirmed waitlisted tickets. At present, passengers forfeit ₹60 (reserved) and ₹30 (unreserved second class) upon cancellation, even for online bookings. Scrapping these fees could offer major relief to affected travelers.
