Railways expands Aadhaar-linked OTP system to curb agent misuse and ensure genuine passengers get fair access to last-minute tickets.

Tatkal ticket bookings are set to undergo a major change, with the Indian Railways making OTP authentication compulsory for select high-demand trains starting December 5. The move aims to stop misuse of the last-minute Tatkal quota and ensure that only genuine passengers can secure these tickets, which are often booked within minutes of the window opening.

Initially launched as a pilot on November 17 for a handful of trains, the OTP-based booking system quickly expanded to 52 routes. It will now be implemented across Central Railway’s key long-distance services — including Duronto Express, Vande Bharat Express and Rajdhani Express — before gradually being

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