IRCTC Mandates Aadhaar for Tatkal Tickets to Combat Touting

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has introduced a significant change for train travellers: linking Aadhaar numbers to login IDs is now mandatory for booking tickets under the popular Tatkal quota.  This new rule is a direct effort to tackle the persistent issue of touts cornering many Tatkal tickets and to ensure that genuine passengers have a fairer chance at securing these sought-after seats. 

Why the Change? The Tatkal Challenge for IRCTC 

Tatkal tickets are a lifeline for many last-minute travellers, but their availability has often been compromised by illegal booking practices. IRCTC officials highlight that the move is aimed at preventing touts from using multiple accounts to book numerous tickets, thereby making them unavailable for others.  

The scale of Tatkal bookings is immense: approximately 2,25,000 Tatkal tickets are booked daily through the online platform. A significant majority, 66.4% of these tickets, are sold within the first 10 minutes of booking commencement, and 84.02% within the first hour. This rapid sell-out window makes it crucial to ensure fair access. 

IRCTC to Prioritise for Aadhaar-Verified Users 

Under the new system, Aadhaar-verified users will receive priority access to Tatkal tickets. This priority will be especially crucial during the initial, high-demand phase of the booking window, particularly the first 10 minutes. 

IRCTC officials have clarified that even authorised IRCTC agents will be restricted from booking Tatkal tickets during this critical initial phase, regardless of how many user IDs or email accounts they possess. This aims to level the playing field for individual passengers.  

Furthermore, Tatkal ticket bookings will now require Aadhaar-based one-time passwords (OTPs) for added security and verification. The IRCTC also plans to extend Aadhaar verification to over-the-counter Tatkal bookings in the future. 

IRCTC Aims to Tackle Fraud 

This Aadhaar linking initiative is part of a larger, ongoing campaign by IRCTC to curb fraudulent booking practices, including the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools by touts. An IRCTC official revealed that the corporation has been actively combating such activities. 

In the past six months alone, over 24 million user accounts have been deactivated and blocked due to suspicious activity. Additionally, another 2 million user accounts are currently flagged as suspicious and are under investigation, based on their Aadhaar details and other documents. These measures collectively underscore IRCTC's commitment to creating a more transparent and fair ticketing system for all passengers. 

Read more: Don't Skip That 45 Paise Checkbox: The Power of IRCTC Train Travel Insurance. 

Conclusion 

The mandatory Aadhaar linking for Tatkal tickets marks a significant step by IRCTC to ensure genuine passengers get priority access to train tickets. By combating the touting menace and enhancing verification processes, IRCTC aims to streamline the booking experience and bring more fairness to the high-demand Tatkal system.  
 
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