BHOPAL: The Bhopal Division of West Central Railway will introduce a new token-based system for Tatkal ticket booking at all reservation centres from August 1, 2026. The move aims to make the booking process more transparent, improve passenger convenience and prevent the misuse of Tatkal tickets by touts.
Under the new system, passengers will receive tokens during fixed time slots before Tatkal booking begins. Tokens for AC Tatkal reservations will be issued from 8:30 am to 9:00 am, while Non-AC Tatkal tokens will be distributed from 9:00 am to 9:30 am.
Each reservation counter will issue a maximum of 10 AC tokens and 15 Non-AC tokens. Railway officials may increase or reduce the number of tokens depending on the crowd and local conditions.
The new process introduces two categories of priority for passengers. Priority A will be given to passengers booking tickets for themselves or their immediate family members, including grandparents, parents, siblings, spouse and children.
Passengers under this category must submit self-attested identity documents, while representatives booking tickets for family members must also provide proof of their relationship where required.
Priority B will include all other passengers booking tickets on behalf of others. They will need to submit self-attested identity documents of both the representative and the passenger, along with the passenger’s signature on the identity proof.
Railway officials said all Priority A token holders will be served first. Only after their booking process is completed will Priority B passengers be allowed to book tickets.
Each token will carry the reservation counter number and its details will be recorded in a register. The token will be non-transferable, and only the person who receives it will be allowed to book the ticket at the assigned counter.
Once all token holders have been served, any remaining Tatkal tickets will be booked on the existing first come, first served basis, subject to availability.
“The new system is an important step towards making Tatkal reservation more transparent, organised and passenger-friendly. Passengers should follow the prescribed procedure and avoid dealing with unauthorised agents or middlemen,” said Saurabh Kataria, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Bhopal Division.
The railway administration has advised passengers to carry the required identity documents while visiting reservation centres to avoid delays during the booking process.
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