New Delhi: Indian Railways is set to implement a new directive from October 1, making Aadhaar-based e-verification mandatory for booking general reservation tickets on the IRCTC website and mobile app. The process, already in place for Tatkal bookings, will now be extended to general reservations as well.
The Ministry of Railways had announced this measure on September 14, stating that the move aims to curb ticket black marketing, eliminate fake IDs, and prevent the use of automated bots.
Aadhar verification mandatory for booking general tickets
According to the ministry, Aadhaar verification will be compulsory during the first 15 minutes of the opening of general reservations online. This step is expected to streamline the ticketing process, reduce waiting times, and improve the chances of securing confirmed tickets. Passengers who have already linked their Aadhaar details with their IRCTC accounts will find the process more seamless.
Tickets for popular trains often sell out within minutes of the booking window opening, as touts and unauthorized agents exploit software and other unfair means to corner large numbers of seats. This has long made it difficult for ordinary passengers to obtain confirmed tickets.
The new rules are designed to curb such malpractices and ensure that only genuine travelers can book seats. With Aadhaar verification in place, each booking will be authenticated against the passenger’s registered Aadhaar number. For the first 15 minutes of the booking window, agents will also be barred from booking tickets in both AC and non-AC categories, further limiting misuse.
The ministry clarified that the existing schedule for booking general reservation tickets at computerized Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters will remain unchanged. Likewise, the 10-minute booking limit applicable to authorized railway ticketing agents on the first day of general reservation bookings will continue as before.
Not very long ago touts rampantly operated in the tickdeet booking operations of the railways. The adoption of technology has significantly curbed their presence. With the continuous push of technology tools, the authorities are trying to corner them even more.