Indian Railways is set to introduce mandatory e-Aadhaar authentication for booking tatkal train tickets, according to sources. The rollout of this new system is expected to begin later this month.

The move aims to curb misuse and scalping of tatkal tickets, thereby increasing the availability of train tickets for genuine passengers under the tatkal quota. By linking bookings with e-Aadhaar verification, authorities hope to ensure a more transparent and fair ticketing process.

Tatkal tickets, which are meant for last-minute travel plans, have often been subject to hoarding and automated bookings by agents using unfair means. The new e-Aadhaar authentication will require passengers to verify their identity digitally at the time of booking, helping Indian Railways to curb fraudulent transactions and make the process more passenger-friendly.