Indian Railways To Quadruple Passenger Reservation System Capacity, Says Minister

The Indian Railways is undertaking a large-scale modernisation of its Passenger Reservation System (PRS), which at present can process 25,000 ticket bookings per minute, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha on Wednesday.

In his written reply to a parliamentary question, Vaishnaw noted that ‘capacity enhancement and technological upgradation is an ongoing process of Indian Railways’, adding that the current system remains robust but is due for significant expansion.

The minister revealed that the comprehensive upgrade will handle more than four times the existing capacity, enabling the PRS to manage an estimated one lakh ticket bookings per minute once fully deployed.

The upgrade, approved at a cost of ₹182 crore, includes the replacement and enhancement of hardware, software, network equipment, security infrastructure, and new functionalities.

“The new system is being built on advanced technology capable of supporting future-ready features,” Vaishnaw said.

Enhancing Digital Ticketing Options

Alongside PRS expansion, Indian Railways is strengthening its mobile ticketing services to improve passenger convenience.

Vaishnaw highlighted the launch of the RailOne App, which enables passengers to book both reserved and unreserved tickets directly via smartphones.

The move aims to reduce congestion at ticket counters, expand digital adoption, and provide passengers across the country with seamless booking experiences.

The PRS modernisation forms part of Indian Railways’ wider strategy to strengthen its digital backbone and streamline passenger services.

With record demand during peak seasons and festival travel, Indian Railways views boosting PRS capacity as critical to ensuring smoother bookings and minimising system slowdowns.

Officials believe the upgraded system will also support emerging requirements such as dynamic pricing, integration with digital payment platforms, and faster refunds.

By scaling up its booking infrastructure and introducing mobile-first solutions, Indian Railways aims to improve customer experience while positioning itself as a technology-driven transport network.

Industry experts have noted that the integration of advanced IT systems and the adoption of secure, scalable infrastructure could set a new benchmark for passenger reservation services worldwide.

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