Sealdah Division PRS closure will take effect at eight stations from July 1, 2026, as Indian Railways permanently shuts computerised Passenger Reservation System counters there.

New Alipur railway station sign and platform
Illustrative photo of New Alipur railway station, one of the stations listed for PRS counter closure in Sealdah Division. Photo: Soumava2002 / Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0

Sealdah Division PRS closure covers eight stations

The decision applies to PRS counters under the Sealdah Division of Eastern Railway. These Indian Railways reservation counters are used to book reserved tickets for long-distance and short-distance trains. Passengers can also use them to modify reservations, cancel bookings and check seat availability on specific services.

Eastern Railway said the counters will remain open until June 30, 2026. They will be closed from July 1, 2026, at Agarpara, Titagarh, Jagaddal, Birati, Ashok Nagar Road, Machhalandapur, Dhakuria and New Alipur⁠.

IRCTC e-ticketing remains central to reservations

Indian Railways launched internet ticket booking⁠ in 2002, and online reservations now account for more than 87 per cent of all reserved tickets booked across the network.

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation, the digital arm of Indian Railways, manages the advanced e-ticketing system used for train bookings and PNR status checks. It also provides catering and hospitality services at stations.

Passenger Reservation System and newer digital tools

The Passenger Reservation System was introduced in 1986 and has been upgraded several times over the past four decades. Indian Railways has expanded the system’s capacity by using various technologies.

Indian Railways has also added newer digital services for passengers. RailOne, the super app launched in 2025, uses Artificial Intelligence to provide more accurate predictions⁠ on ticket confirmations. When a user makes a booking, the app indicates whether a waitlisted ticket is likely to be confirmed.

Dhakuria railway station platforms in Sealdah Division
Illustrative photo of Dhakuria railway station, one of the Sealdah Division stations affected by the PRS counter closure. Photo: Pinakpani / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0

What will change for passengers?

For passengers at the eight affected stations, the practical change concerns PRS counter services: reserved ticket booking, booking changes, cancellations and seat-availability enquiries will no longer be available at those counters after June 30, 2026. The wider context is that Indian Railways says internet-based ticketing began in 2002 and nearly 88% of ticketing demand is now handled online. Its RailOne app also supports booking, cancellation and refunds for reserved, unreserved and platform tickets, along with ticket-status and train-running information. (pib.gov.in⁠)

A new IRCTC website is scheduled to be rolled out in July. It is expected to include advanced, faster and modern functions aimed at improving the overall user experience.