New Delhi: IRCTC allows Tatkal booking from 10 am for AC Classes and from 11 am for Non-AC Classes. As per the rules laid disown by Indian Railways, Tatka train
tickets can be booked one day in advance actual date of journey excluding date of journey. For example, if the train is departing on 5th, the passenger will be able to book tatkal ticket on 4th at 10 am for AC coaches and at 11 am for Non-AC Classes.
Enhanced IRCTC Tatkal Booking Security
Recently, the Ministry of Railways directed Indian Railways to take several steps to ensure fair and transparent access to Tatkal tickets and to safeguard the interests of genuine passengers. Railways implemented following provisions to enhance user authentication and reduce misuse of the scheme: Aadhaar Authentication for Online Tatkal Bookings, System-Based OTP Authentication at PRS Counters and Agents, Booking Time Restriction for Authorised Agents.
Mandatory ID Proofs for Tatkal Travel
Passengers undertaking journey are required to carry any one of the prescribed proofs of identity (in original). Notably, if any passenger fails to produce original document, the ticket will be treated as travelling without ticket and charged accordingly. Below are the list of documents which can be shown to TTE:
Aadhaar Card, Voter identity card, Passport, PAN Card, Driving Licence, Photo identity card having serial number issued by Central/State Government, Student Identity Card with photograph issued by recognized School/College for their students, Nationalized Bank Passbok with photograph, Credit cards issued by banks with laminated photograph.
Photo identity cards having serial number issued by Public Sector Undertaking of State/Central Government, District Administration, Municipal bodies and Penchant Administration.
IRCTC Tatkal Tickets agents timings
To ensure transparency and enhance ticket availability for genuine train travellers, Indian Railways has changed the timings for authorised ticketing agents of Indian Railways/IRCTC to book tickets. The agents are restricted from booking Tatkal tickets between 10 am and 10:30 am in AC classes and between 11 am and 11:30 am for non-AC classes on the opening day of reservation.
Tatkal Tickets Aadhaar authentification
Importantly, tickets under Tatkal Scheme can be booked through the IRCTC only by Aadhaar authenticated user. This has helped to deactivate or temporarily suspend 5.73 crore suspicious and inactive users registered with IRCTC. Also, people booking Tatkal tickets at computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters and through authorised agents will require OTP authentication sent to the mobile number provided by the user at the time of booking.
Indian Railways: IRCTC Tatkal Charges
| Class of Travel | Minimum distance for charges in KM | Maximum Tatkal Charges (in Rs.) | Maximum Tatkal Charges in Rs |
| Second (sitting) | 100 | 10 | 15 |
| Sleeper | 500 | 100 | 200 |
| AC Chair Car | 250 | 125 | 225 |
| AC 3 Tier | 500 | 300 | 400 |
| AC 2 Tier | 500 | 400 | 500 |
| Executive | 250 | 400 | 500 |
(Inputs for the article taken from indianrailways.gov.in)
