Quick Summary
- Indian Railways has introduced a new feature allowing passengers to book current tickets for Vande Bharat trains up to 15 minutes before departure thru the IRCTC website or app.
- This facility is available for eight vande Bharat trains in South India: routes include Mangalore Central-Thiruvananthapuram central, Chennai egmore-Nagercoil, Coimbatore-Bengaluru Cantonment, and others.
- current tickets can be purchased after the reservation chart is prepared (now 8 hours before train departure). Unreserved seats can be booked online or at station counters.
- This change enhances last-minute travel options during festivals and peak demand periods like Diwali and Raksha Bandhan.
- Booking process involves logging into the IRCTC portal/app, selecting train details, checking seat availability in real time, and paying online for an e-ticket.
!Railways’ Big Update: Passengers can now book Vande Bharat train tickets online even 15 minutes before departure
Indian Opinion Analysis
The introduction of current ticket booking in select vande Bharat trains marks a decisive step towards enhancing convenience and flexibility for travelers. By enabling last-minute bookings just 15 minutes prior to departure, Indian Railways aligns itself with modern passenger expectations without undermining operational plans like reservation chart planning.
This upgrade could reduce dependency on long-term planning for journeys while benefiting tourists or professionals making impromptu trips. Moreover, its strategic deployment on South India’s key routes highlights a data-driven approach toward increasing usage under specific demand conditions.
As implementation expands beyond these test zones, effective management of this dynamic system will determine its success across broader regions where demand pressures surge during festivals. For now, it reduces bottlenecks created by rigidities in prebooking norms-an overall win for passenger welfare.
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