Hyderabad: South Central Railway has made it compulsory for passengers to provide a mobile number while booking reserved tickets at Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters. The directive was issued following Railway Board orders, the Vijayawada division announced on Tuesday.
Railway officials said the move would help improve communication with passengers during their journey. By linking tickets with mobile numbers, passengers will receive SMS alerts on waitlisted ticket status after chart preparation. They will also get real-time updates on train arrivals, departures, delays, diversions, or cancellations.
Other benefits include faster complaint resolution and effective communication during emergencies such as derailments or disruptions. Refund and cancellation updates will also be delivered directly via SMS.
Passengers must write their mobile number on the reservation requisition slip when booking at PRS counters. Booking clerks will ensure that the number provided by the passenger or their representative is correctly entered into the system.
The Vijayawada division appealed to passengers to cooperate, stating that this step will make train travel more convenient, reliable, and safe.