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Railway Flash – Real-Time Headlines & Service Alerts

Latest Updates | August 2025

• New Vande Bharat Routes Incoming: From August 10, PM Modi to flag off three new trains — Ajni-Pune, Bengaluru-Belagavi, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-Amritsar.
• Raksha Bandhan Specials Deployed: Special trains running across routes like Mumbai, Patna, Jaipur to manage festive rush.
• Express Connectivity Boost in MP: Jabalpur–Raipur, Rewa–Pune, and Bhavnagar Terminus–Ayodhya launched virtually by CM, enhancing regional links.
• Land Monetization for E-Commerce: Railways eases lease rules for setting up sorting and logistics units on railway land.
• No Extra UPI Charges, Confirms Minister: UPI ticket payments via IRCTC remain free — no hidden fees.

Passenger Alert: Booking & Policy Changes

• Tatkal Booking Overhaul: From July 1–15, Aadhaar-OTP verification is mandatory and agents are restricted in the initial booking window.
• Ticket Quotas Expanded: Aadhaar-linked users can now book up to 24 tickets/month; others up to 12.
• IRCTC Gets RBI Nod: IRCTC Payments has received in-principle approval to become a Payment Aggregator — final approval may take 1 year.

Quick Travel Tip

Always check your live train status and cancellation alerts via NTES or IRCTC apps before heading to the station—especially during high-demand periods!

FAQs

• When will the new Vande Bharat trains start? August 10, 2025 — train services expected within a few days after flag-off.
• How do Aadhaar rules affect me? To book Tatkal tickets, you must link Aadhaar to your IRCTC account and verify via OTP. Booking limits depend on Aadhaar linkage.