IRCTC Extends Aadhaar Booking Slot: What It Means for Train PassengersNew Delhi: In a move aimed at improving transparency and giving fair access to genuine passengers, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has extended the Aadhaar-based booking slot for reserved train tickets. The decision is expected to benefit millions of railway users who depend on online ticket booking.What Is the Aadhaar Booking Slot?The Aadhaar-linked booking slot allows only those IRCTC users whose accounts are verified with Aadhaar to book tickets during a special time window. This system was introduced to curb misuse by agents, prevent bulk bookings through bots, and ensure that real passengers get a fair chance to book Tatkal and regular tickets.What Has Changed Now?According to the latest update, IRCTC has extended the duration of the Aadhaar booking window, allowing Aadhaar-verified users more time to complete their ticket reservations. Earlier, the special slot was limited, which often resulted in heavy traffic and failed transactions. With the extension, passengers can now book with better stability and fewer technical issues.Why IRCTC Took This StepIRCTC officials said the decision was taken after receiving feedback from users who faced difficulties during peak booking hours. The extended slot aims to:Reduce server overload during Tatkal hoursStop automated ticket bookings by agents and softwareImprove success rates for genuine passengersEncourage more users to link their IRCTC accounts with AadhaarHow Passengers Can BenefitTo take advantage of the Aadhaar booking slot, passengers must ensure that:Their IRCTC account is linked with AadhaarMobile number is verified with both Aadhaar and IRCTCLogin is done before the booking window opensPassengers who complete Aadhaar verification are given priority access, increasing the chances of securing confirmed tickets during high-demand periods.Impact on Tatkal and Regular BookingsRailway experts believe this move will especially benefit Tatkal ticket booking, where demand is extremely high. With fewer bots and agents in the system, ordinary users are expected to experience smoother transactions and better availability.Official Advisory from IRCTCIRCTC has once again advised passengers not to share login credentials with any third-party agents or websites. Only the official IRCTC portal and mobile app should be used for bookings.ConclusionThe extension of the Aadhaar booking slot by IRCTC is a significant step towards fair, secure, and transparent ticket booking. Passengers who complete Aadhaar verification can now enjoy a smoother booking experience with higher chances of confirmation.