IRCTC Train Ticket Booking: Indian Railways (IR) is continuously working to make the end-to-end travel experience more passenger-centric. Since a train journey begins with securing a confirmed ticket, the national transporter has implemented several measures to simplify the ticket booking process for citizens.
IRCTC User ID
Recently, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the travel and hospitality arm of Indian Railways, has deactivated over 2.5 crore user IDs. But do you know the reason behind this major initiative and what prompted the Navratna company to deactivate such a huge number of user IDs?
IRCTC User ID Deactivated
In a reply to Rajya Sabha on July 25 (Friday), Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that IRCTC has deactivated over 2.5 crore user IDs to curb malpractices in ticket booking system.
“With a view to curb malpractices in ticket booking system, IRCTC has recently deactivated over 2.5 crore user ids, as their credentials were found to be suspicious during extensive data point analysis,” Vaishnaw said.
The Union Minister was replying to a question raised by Rajya Sabha member AD Singh, who also sought details about the measures being taken to ensure transparency, prevent misuse, and improve passenger access to confirmed train tickets.
In response, Vaishnaw stated that to ensure transparency and to proliferate digital modes, Indian Railways has undertaken the following initiatives:
- Reserved tickets can be booked either online or across computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS) counters on first cum first served basis. Presently, around 89% of total tickets are being booked through online mode.
- At PRS counters, the facility of making payments through digital modes has been provided.
- With effect from 01-07-2025, tickets under Tatkal Scheme can be booked through the website of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC)/its app only by Aadhaar authenticated users.
- Agents are barred from booking opening day Tatkal tickets during first 30 minutes of opening of Tatkal reservation.
- Waiting list position of the trains is monitored on regular basis and in order to cater to additional demand, Indian Railways operates special train services and augments the load of trains to generate additional accommodation, subject to operational feasibility.
- Further, schemes like Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme (ATAS) known as VIKALP and upgradation scheme have been introduced to provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers and also to ensure optimal utilisation of available accommodation.
