Indian Railways has introduced a new rule to help passengers get confirmed seats at the last moment. Now, empty seats can be booked up to 15 minutes before the train departs, even after the reservation chart is prepared. This facility is primarily focused on Vande Bharat Express and other reserved trains to ensure better seat utilization.
How to book tickets under the new rule?
Passengers can book these last-minute confirmed tickets through the IRCTC website or the IRCTC Rail Connect mobile app. Those who prefer offline booking can visit authorized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters. This system allows travelers to secure a seat even if the chart has already been generated.
When did this rule start and where is it active?
Rail Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw stated that this rule became effective from July 30, 2025. It started as a pilot project in eight Vande Bharat trains in July 2025 and was later expanded. Southern Railway has already implemented this for all 17 Vande Bharat trains in its zone. The Railway Board in Delhi is now rolling this out in a phased manner across other trains.
What is the purpose of this change?
Railway officials and Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Kuldeep Tiwari mentioned that this decision was taken for passenger convenience. The main goal is to make sure that no seat goes empty and people traveling on short notice get a confirmed ticket. This update helps in maximizing the use of available capacity in premium trains.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
क्या यह नियम सभी ट्रेनों के लिए है?
यह नियम मुख्य रूप से Vande Bharat Express और अन्य आरक्षित ट्रेनों के लिए है और इसे चरणबद्ध तरीके से लागू किया जा रहा है।
चार्ट बनने के बाद टिकट कैसे बुक करें?
यात्री IRCTC की वेबसाइट, मोबाइल ऐप या रेलवे के PRS काउंटरों से ट्रेन छूटने के 15 मिनट पहले तक बुकिंग कर सकते हैं।