Railway Ministry's New Rules Curb Emergency Quota Delays, To Boost Efficiency In 2025

Railway Ministry's Circular

Railway Ministry introduced another change in the passenger ticketing process. On Tuesday, a new circular was issued highlighting the revised rules for handling special travel requests. These revised rules aim towards prevention of last-minute delays and streamlining operations.

Emergency Quota

For submitting emergency quota requests, the railway ministry revised the timing guidelines. Recently, it changed the reservation chart preparation timing to eight hours before a train's departure. According to a circular issued by the ministry on Tuesday, a day before the journey, passengers seeking emergency quota in a train must submit their request. This change applies to all trains.

"Emergency quota request for all the trains leaving between 0000 hours and 1400 hours should reach EQ cell up to 1200 hours on the previous day of journey," the circular said.

It also explained that on the previous day of the journey, emergency quota requests for all remaining trains leaving between 14.01 and 23.59 hours should reach EQ cell up to 1600 hours.

During Public Holidays

Requests received on the same day as the train’s departure will not be accepted. In case of Sundays or public holidays, the circular mentioned that requests for trains leaving on such days must be made on the previous working day.

“The requests for the release of accommodation in trains, for which the emergency quota is to be released on Sundays or clubbed holidays after Sundays, should be given during office hours on the previous working day,” the circular stated. The circular also explained that all efforts are made to allot the quota judiciously and with common prudence.

Timely Allotments

“The allotments are given in time and chart preparation is not delayed, which not only results in extreme difficulties to the travelling public but can also lead to a delay in the departure of trains,” the ministry said. This comes after its recent updates to chart preparation and Tatkal bookings.

CRIS Will Implement Modern System

By December 2025, a new passenger reservation system will significantly increase ticket booking capabilities. The modern system will handle over 150,000 ticket reservations per minute, a fivefold increase from the current 32,000 tickets per minute. Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) will implement this modern system.