Indian Railways has implemented stricter norms for passengers travelling on reserved tickets. If a traveller fails to board the train from the designated boarding station, the allotted seat can now be reassigned within minutes.
Ticket Examiners (TTEs) will no longer hold a reserved seat vacant until the next station. Earlier, if a passenger did not board at the scheduled station, the TTE would typically keep the seat unassigned for up to two subsequent stations before allotting it to someone else.
This practice has changed with the rollout of Hand Held Terminal (HHT) devices to TTEs. If a reserved passenger does not board, the absence is immediately updated in the HHT system. The seat is then instantly allotted to passengers on the waiting list or those travelling under RAC (Reservation Against Cancellation) status.
SMS alert if your seat is reassigned
Once the seat is reassigned, an SMS notification is sent to the registered mobile number. However, passengers who did not provide their own mobile number at the time of booking will not receive this alert. In many cases, tickets are booked using another person’s phone number, and notifications are sent only to the number entered during reservation.
When tickets are booked through travel agents, the agent’s mobile number is often provided, which means the actual passenger may not receive any SMS update.
Important instructions to avoid losing your seat
To avoid forfeiting a reserved seat, passengers must board the train at the station mentioned on the ticket and arrive on time. If you intend to board from a different station, you must update the boarding point at least 24 hours before departure through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website or mobile app.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com